title: Cytokine mRNA profile of alveolar T lymphocytes and macrophages in patients with systemic sclerosis suggests a local Tr1 response.
abstract: The development of an autoimmune disease like systemic sclerosis (SSc) is suspected to be driven by an activated T lymphocyte subset, expressing a cytokine profile specific to the disease. To further characterize the type of immune reaction in SSc, we searched for a broad panel of cytokine messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNAs) in T lymphocytes and monocytes/macrophages from paired samples of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and peripheral blood in 18 patients and 16 age- and sex-matched controls. RNA from CD3(+) T lymphocytes and CD14(+) monocytes/macrophages was examined by means of the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. SSc alveolar T lymphocytes expressed a cytokine profile suggestive of a mixed Th1/Th2 reaction, showing an increased frequency of mRNA for interleukin (IL)-10, IL-6 and interferon (IFN)γ, while IL-1β, IFNγ and tumour necrosis factor β were expressed in blood T lymphocytes in a higher percentage of patients with SSc than controls. SSc alveolar T cells expressed IL-10 mRNA more often than peripheral T cells, a phenomenon not found in controls and which may point at local IL-10 activation/response in SSc lung. Transforming growth factor β mRNA was present in all alveolar as well as peripheral blood T cell samples in patients and controls. The cytokine mRNA profile in SSc with interstitial lung disease (ILD) was similar to the profile found in SSc without ILD. Our findings point at a mixed Th1/Th2 reaction in SSc and may indicate regulatory T 1 cell activation/response in the lungs of patients with SSc.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Rheumatology, Hospital of Vendsyssel/Ålborg University, Hjørring, DenmarkDepartment of Rheumatology, Umeå University Hospital, Umeå, SwedenDepartment of Lung Medicine and Allergy, Umeå University Hospital, Umeå, SwedenDepartment of Clinical Immunology, Umeå University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Rheumatology, Hospital of Vendsyssel/Ålborg University, Hjørring, DenmarkDepartment of Rheumatology, Umeå University Hospital, Umeå, SwedenDepartment of Lung Medicine and Allergy, Umeå University Hospital, Umeå, SwedenDepartment of Clinical Immunology, Umeå University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Rheumatology, Hospital of Vendsyssel/Ålborg University, Hjørring, DenmarkDepartment of Rheumatology, Umeå University Hospital, Umeå, SwedenDepartment of Lung Medicine and Allergy, Umeå University Hospital, Umeå, SwedenDepartment of Clinical Immunology, Umeå University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Nagaeva
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Rheumatology, Hospital of Vendsyssel/Ålborg University, Hjørring, DenmarkDepartment of Rheumatology, Umeå University Hospital, Umeå, SwedenDepartment of Lung Medicine and Allergy, Umeå University Hospital, Umeå, SwedenDepartment of Clinical Immunology, Umeå University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rantapää-Dahlqvist
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Rheumatology, Hospital of Vendsyssel/Ålborg University, Hjørring, DenmarkDepartment of Rheumatology, Umeå University Hospital, Umeå, SwedenDepartment of Lung Medicine and Allergy, Umeå University Hospital, Umeå, SwedenDepartment of Clinical Immunology, Umeå University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sandström
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Rheumatology, Hospital of Vendsyssel/Ålborg University, Hjørring, DenmarkDepartment of Rheumatology, Umeå University Hospital, Umeå, SwedenDepartment of Lung Medicine and Allergy, Umeå University Hospital, Umeå, SwedenDepartment of Clinical Immunology, Umeå University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mincheva-Nilsson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000276:immunology; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017252:CD3 Complex; D016207:Cytokines; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma