title: High levels of maternal serum IL-17 and activin A in pregnant women affected by systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate changes of serum IL-17, activin A, follistatin, and other cytokines during pregnancy in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of patients with SLE and controls were longitudinally studied, collecting a blood sample before and during three trimesters of pregnancy. Serum activin A, follistatin, IL-17, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α concentrations were evaluated by specific ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before pregnancy, while serum IL-17, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α resulted significantly higher in women with SLE (P<0.001), activin A and follistatin were not changed. Serum IL-17 concentrations were higher in SLE than in controls with no changes during pregnancy. IL-6 increased in both groups, resulting higher in SLE than in controls only in the first trimester (P<0.05). IL-10 concentration in SLE increased during pregnancy resulting significantly higher than in controls (P<0.01). TNF-α levels were higher in SLE than in controls in third trimester (P<0.01). Serum activin A levels in SLE were significantly higher than in controls (P<0.001) at third trimester.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with SLE show increased secretions of activin A, IL-17, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α during gestation, with a different trend for the various cytokines. These data suggest that patients with SLE have a hyper-reactive immune system, probably receiving a placental contribution.
authors: Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, University of Siena, S. Maria alle Scotte, viale Bracci, Siena, Italy.Siena, Italy.
authors: Michela
authors: M
authors: Torricelli
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Bellisai
authors: Romina
authors: R
authors: Novembri
authors: Luna R
authors: LR
authors: Galeazzi
authors: Annamaria
authors: A
authors: Iuliano
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Voltolini
authors: Adriano
authors: A
authors: Spreafico
authors: Mauro
authors: M
authors: Galeazzi
authors: Felice
authors: F
authors: Petraglia
mesh_terms: D028341:Activins / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D020381:Interleukin-17; C422405:activin A; D028341:Activins