title: Circulating interleukin-6 type cytokines in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: We investigated the serum concentration of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and the IL-6 family of cytokines (leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), oncostatin M (OSM) and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 64 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 15 healthy controls. We also examined a possible association between the serum levels of these proteins and SLE activity as well as correlations between the IL-6 concentration and the levels of LIF, OSM and CNTF. IL-6 was detectable in all 64 patients with SLE and normal individuals, and the level of this cytokine was significantly higher in patients than in the control group (p < 0.002 ). LIF, OSM and CNTF were detectable in 9 (14.1%), 6 (9.4%) and 51 (78%) patients, respectively, and undetectable in the majority of healthy individuals. We found positive correlation between the serum concentrations of IL-6, LIF, OSM and CNTF and SLE activity. IL-6 and OSM serum levels were also correlated but not IL-6 and LIF or CNTF. In conclusion, an increase in the serum levels of IL-6 and, to a lesser extent of LIF, OSM and CNTF concentrations may be useful markers for SLE activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Medical University of Lodź, Poland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Robak
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sysa-Jedrzejowska
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stepień
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Robak
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000097:blood; D053683:Oncostatin M; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D016207:Cytokines; D015850:Interleukin-6; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C508351:OSM protein, human; D010455:Peptides; D053683:Oncostatin M