title: Immunologic parameters in systemic sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Immunologic abnormalities seem to play an important role in important role in systemic sclerosis (SSc).
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied the following immune parameters to get more insight into SSc: autoantibodies (antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-Scl-70, anticentromere antibodies (ACA) subsets of lymphocyte subpopulations and markers of their activation, as well as serum levels of IL-2, the soluble IL-2 receptor (SIL-2R), IL-6 and its correlation to N-terminal procollagen-III propeptide (P III P), and finally, the IL-6 production by SSc and normal dermal fibroblasts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In patients with active SSc, we found a reduced number of CD2+ T-lymphocytes and an increase in the expression of T-lymphocyte activation markers such as CD25+ and CD71+, HLA-DR Ia, as well as elevated serum levels of SIL-2LR and IL-6. SSc fibroblasts did not produce more IL-6 than normal fibroblasts in monolayer cultures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data show that a wide range of immunologic parameters are altered in SSc. In general, T-helper (TH) lymphocytes are activated possibly because of reduced T-suppressor (TS) and natural killer (NK)-cell levels. TH may polyclonally stimulate B cells, which in turn produce higher amounts of autoantibodies. Our findings support the concept that TH cell-derived cytokines/growth factors stimulate matrix protein synthesis by fibroblasts, resulting in generalized fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bruns
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: U F
authors.initials: UF
authors.lastname: Haustein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis; D002503:Centromere / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000032:analysis; D011347:Procollagen / Q000032:analysis; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D007376:Interleukin-2; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011347:Procollagen; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; C048100:Scl 70 antigen, human; C041876:procollagen Type III-N-terminal peptide; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I