OBJECTIVE: To determine serum levels of interleukin 27 (IL-27) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and relate the results to the clinical features of SSc. METHODS: Serum levels of IL-27 in 91 patients with SSc and the production of IL-27 by isolated monocytes were examined by ELISA. The expression of IL-27 receptor in the skin fibroblasts, B cells and T cells was quantified by real-time PCR. The effect of IL-27 on immunoglobulin G (IgG) production of B cells, IL-17 production of CD4 T cells and proliferation and collagen synthesis of fibroblasts was also analysed. RESULTS: Serum IL-27 levels were raised in patients with SSc compared with healthy controls and correlated positively with the extent of skin and pulmonary fibrosis and immunological abnormalities. IL-27 levels also correlated positively with serum levels of hyaluronan, recently identified as an endogenous ligand for Toll-like receptors. The retrospective longitudinal analysis showed a tendency for serum IL-27 levels to be attenuated during the follow-up period. IL-27 production by cultured monocytes was increased by hyaluronan stimulation. IL-27 receptor expression was upregulated in the affected skin fibroblasts, B cells and CD4 T cells of patients with SSc. Moreover, IL-27 stimulation increased IgG production of B cells, IL-17 production of CD4 T cells and proliferation and collagen synthesis of fibroblasts in patients with SSc compared with those in healthy controls. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that IL-27 and its signalling in B cells, T cells and fibroblasts contributes to disease development in patients with SSc.
OBJECTIVE: To determine serum levels of interleukin 27 (IL-27) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and relate the results to the clinical features of SSc. METHODS: Serum levels of IL-27 in 91 patients with SSc and the production of IL-27 by isolated monocytes were examined by ELISA. The expression of IL-27 receptor in the skin fibroblasts, B cells and T cells was quantified by real-time PCR. The effect of IL-27 on immunoglobulin G (IgG) production of B cells, IL-17 production of CD4 T cells and proliferation and collagen synthesis of fibroblasts was also analysed. RESULTS: Serum IL-27 levels were raised in patients with SSc compared with healthy controls and correlated positively with the extent of skin and pulmonary fibrosis and immunological abnormalities. IL-27 levels also correlated positively with serum levels of hyaluronan, recently identified as an endogenous ligand for Toll-like receptors. The retrospective longitudinal analysis showed a tendency for serum IL-27 levels to be attenuated during the follow-up period. IL-27 production by cultured monocytes was increased by hyaluronan stimulation. IL-27 receptor expression was upregulated in the affected skin fibroblasts, B cells and CD4 T cells of patients with SSc. Moreover, IL-27 stimulation increased IgG production of B cells, IL-17 production of CD4 T cells and proliferation and collagen synthesis of fibroblasts in patients with SSc compared with those in healthy controls. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that IL-27 and its signalling in B cells, T cells and fibroblasts contributes to disease development in patients with SSc.
Authors: Rosalinda Posadas-Sánchez; Nonanzit Pérez-Hernández; José Manuel Rodríguez-Pérez; Ramón M Coral-Vázquez; Bladimir Roque-Ramírez; Luis Llorente; Guadalupe Lima; Carmina Flores-Dominguez; Teresa Villarreal-Molina; Carlos Posadas-Romero; Gilberto Vargas-Alarcón Journal: Oncotarget Date: 2017-03-15