title: Elevated serum interleukin-27 levels in patients with systemic sclerosis: association with T cell, B cell and fibroblast activation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine serum levels of interleukin 27 (IL-27) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and relate the results to the clinical features of SSc.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum levels of IL-27 in 91 patients with SSc and the production of IL-27 by isolated monocytes were examined by ELISA. The expression of IL-27 receptor in the skin fibroblasts, B cells and T cells was quantified by real-time PCR. The effect of IL-27 on immunoglobulin G (IgG) production of B cells, IL-17 production of CD4 T cells and proliferation and collagen synthesis of fibroblasts was also analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum IL-27 levels were raised in patients with SSc compared with healthy controls and correlated positively with the extent of skin and pulmonary fibrosis and immunological abnormalities. IL-27 levels also correlated positively with serum levels of hyaluronan, recently identified as an endogenous ligand for Toll-like receptors. The retrospective longitudinal analysis showed a tendency for serum IL-27 levels to be attenuated during the follow-up period. IL-27 production by cultured monocytes was increased by hyaluronan stimulation. IL-27 receptor expression was upregulated in the affected skin fibroblasts, B cells and CD4 T cells of patients with SSc. Moreover, IL-27 stimulation increased IgG production of B cells, IL-17 production of CD4 T cells and proliferation and collagen synthesis of fibroblasts in patients with SSc compared with those in healthy controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that IL-27 and its signalling in B cells, T cells and fibroblasts contributes to disease development in patients with SSc.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan.
authors: Ayumi
authors: A
authors: Yoshizaki
authors: Koichi
authors: K
authors: Yanaba
authors: Yohei
authors: Y
authors: Iwata
authors: Kazuhiro
authors: K
authors: Komura
authors: Asako
authors: A
authors: Ogawa
authors: Eiji
authors: E
authors: Muroi
authors: Fumihide
authors: F
authors: Ogawa
authors: Motoi
authors: M
authors: Takenaka
authors: Kazuhiro
authors: K
authors: Shimizu
authors: Minoru
authors: M
authors: Hasegawa
authors: Manabu
authors: M
authors: Fujimoto
authors: Shinichi
authors: S
authors: Sato
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000276:immunology*; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000276:immunology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000378:metabolism; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C112441:IL27RA protein, human; D020381:Interleukin-17; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D003094:Collagen