Decreased production of interleukin-12 and interferon-gamma is associated with renal involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the type 1/type 2 cytokine balance in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) according to the presence of renal disorder and activity status.


METHODS
We measured the serum levels of type 1 (IFN-gamma, IL-12) and type 2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-10) as well as spontaneous and stimulated cytokine production from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in 40 patients with SLE.


RESULTS
Patients with lupus nephritis (LN) showed significantly lower levels of serum IL-12 and IFN-gamma than those without LN. Production of IL-12 and IFN-gamma by stimulated PBMC were also decreased in patients with LN. The circulating IL-12 correlated positively with IFN-gamma, but inversely with IL-10. The SLEDAI scores correlated well with the ratio of IL-4/IFN-gamma levels.


CONCLUSIONS
The reduced production of IL-12 and IFN-gamma and the resultant shift towards the type 2 cytokine phenotype may be associated with LN.
Min
D J
DJ
Center for Rheumatic Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic Research Institutes of Medical Science, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul.
Cho
M L
ML
Cho
C S
CS
Min
S Y
SY
Kim
W U
WU
Yang
S Y
SY
Min
J K
JK
Hong
Y S
YS
Lee
S H
SH
Park
S H
SH
Kim
H Y
HY
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000097:blood*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology
D008934:Mitogens; D016753:Interleukin-10; D018664:Interleukin-12; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma