title: Endothelin-1 serum levels correlate with MCP-1 but not with homocysteine plasma concentration in patients with systemic sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether homocysteine (Hcy) plasma levels are correlated with molecules indicative of endothelial cell and fibroblast activation, including endothelin-1 (ET-1) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and -3 (MCP-1, MCP-3), in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-two patients were enrolled in this study; the control group included 75 age- and sex-matched subjects. Plasma Hcy was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography; folic acid, and vitamin B(12) plasma levels were determined by a chemiluminescence method. ET-1, MCP-1, and MCP-3 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Analysis of the 677C-->T mutation in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and digestion with the enzyme HinfI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hcy levels were lower in patients whereas ET-1 was significantly higher in patients and correlated with MCP-1. Stratification of the patients on the basis of Hcy levels was not associated with any statistical difference in the concentration of ET-1, MCP-1, and MCP-3. Patients with diffuse disease presented the highest levels of ET-1 and MCP-1. The distribution of the MTHFR genotypes was not different in patients and controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In SSc, Hcy plasma concentration does not influence ET-1, MCP-1, or MCP-3 levels. On the contrary, ET-1, a marker of vascular activation, correlates with MCP-1, a chemokine involved in the fibrotic process of SSc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Internal Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Peterlana
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Puccetti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caramaschi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Biasi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beri
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simeoni
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Corrocher
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lunardi
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000097:blood*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D019332:Endothelin-1; D006710:Homocysteine