title: Increased cutaneous T-cell-attracting chemokine levels in sera from patients with systemic sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to assess serum cutaneous T-cell-attracting chemokine (CTACK) levels and CTACK expression levels in skin from patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), and determine whether serum CTACK levels correlate with clinical features in SSc patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples were obtained from 73 SSc patients, 32 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and 26 patients with dermatomyositis. Serum CTACK levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay. CTACK mRNA expression in sclerotic skin was assessed by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum CTACK levels were significantly increased in patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc (dSSc; n=32) and those with limited cutaneous SSc (lSSc; n=41) compared with normal controls (n=31; P<0.05 and P<0.0005, respectively). The presence of calcinosis and muscle involvement was more frequently detected in SSc patients with elevated CTACK levels (P<0.05 and P<0.05, respectively). Elevated C-reactive protein levels were also observed more frequently in SSc patients with increased CTACK levels (P<0.05). CTACK mRNA expression levels in the sclerotic skin of SSc patients were augmented. In a longitudinal study, serum CTACK levels were generally decreased during the follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increased serum CTACK levels and enhanced skin CTACK expression in SSc patients suggest that CTACK is related to the inflammation associated with SSc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, 13-1 Takaramachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8641, Japan.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hayakawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsushita
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yanaba
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kodera
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Komura
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takehara
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sato
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D054425:Chemokine CCL27; D019742:Chemokines, CC / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: C492276:CCL27 protein, human; D054425:Chemokine CCL27; D019742:Chemokines, CC; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002097:C-Reactive Protein