title: Interleukin-6 promotes arthritis and joint deformation in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: The underlying mechanisms for the subsets of self-limiting, intermittent or chronic and deforming arthritis in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are not well understood. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α) and joint status in 47 SLE patients (79% females, age 42 years, disease duration 8.6 years). All cytokines levels were significantly elevated in SLE patients compared with controls, but only IL-2 and IL-8 levels were higher than in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. SLE patients with ongoing synovitis (19%) and joint deformities (11%) had increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), IL-6 and anti-dsDNA Ab levels. IL-6 levels correlated with ESR, anti-dsDNA Ab and haemoglobin, but not with C-reactive protein levels. Arthritis constitutes a considerable burden of disease in SLE over time, and joint deformations are associated with longstanding disease and arthritis flare rates. IL-6 is a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in the prevention of joint damage in SLE arthritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: G Ø
authors.initials: GØ
authors.lastname: Eilertsen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nikolaisen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Becker-Merok
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Nossent
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D016916:Joint Deformities, Acquired / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D013585:Synovitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8