title: Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-13 are elevated in patients with localized scleroderma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The enhanced production of some cytokines may be related to the pathogenesis of localized scleroderma (LSc).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin (IL)-13 are elevated, and whether they correlated with clinical or serological features in patients with LSc.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum levels of TNF and IL-13 were examined by ELISA in 45 patients with LSc and in 20 healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency of serum TNF detection was significantly higher in patients with LSc (24%) compared with that in healthy controls (0%). The frequency of serum IL-13 detection was also significantly higher in patients with LSc (29%) compared with that in controls (0%). In patients with LSc, elevated TNF levels significantly correlated with the presence of IgM antihistone antibodies, anti-single-stranded DNA antibodies, elevated serum IL-6 levels, the number of linear lesions, and muscle involvement. Elevated IL-13 levels were significantly associated with the number of plaque lesions and the total number of lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that TNF and IL-13 may be associated with the development of LSc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Japan. minoruha@derma.m.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagaoka
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takehara
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006657:Histones / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000097:blood*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000097:blood; D012594:Scleroderma, Localized / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D006657:Histones; D018793:Interleukin-13; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor