title: LL-37 expression in the skin in systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the expression and relationship of LL-37, plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) and interferon-alpha (IFN-α) in skin in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and their role in SLE pathogenesis. Skin biopsies were taken from nine SLE patients and six healthy volunteers. Expression of LL-37, pDCs and IFN-α in skin specimens and consecutive sections of skin was detected with an immunohistochemical technique (IH); the expression of LL-37 and pDCs in the samples was detected with in situ hybridization (ISH). The expression levels of LL-37, pDCs and IFN-α were significantly higher in SLE skin than in that of healthy controls (p < 0.001) with either the IH or the ISH technique, and the location of positive expression in consecutive sections was similar. Correlation analysis showed that the expression levels of LL-37, pDCs and IFN-α correlated positively with each other. In conclusion, the expression of LL-37, pDCs and IFN-α was increased in the skin of patients with active SLE. It is necessary to study further the role of LL-37 in the pathogenesis of SLE, and the exact relationship among LL-37, pDCs and IFN-α.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.
authors.forename: C-L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: F-Z
authors.initials: FZ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: L-Q
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Bi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000276:immunology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult; D054804:Cathelicidins
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D054804:Cathelicidins