LCN2 and Nephropathy: Several studies have shown that uNGAL is a reliable biomarker for both acute kidney injury and CKD in patients with SLE.[32] NGAL is possibly involved in the pathogenesis of LN as the kidney injury of antiDNA antibody-induced nephritis was reduced in NGAL-knockout mice compared to wild-type mice.[33] Because NGAL can promote inflammation and cause tubular apoptosis8 and uNGAL level correlates with the severity of renal damage,[34] higher uNGAL levels in patients with SLE with LN suggest more severe kidney damage than in those without LN.