title: Augmented production of soluble CD93 in patients with systemic sclerosis and clinical association with severity of skin sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The cell surface protein CD93, expressed on endothelial and myeloid cells, mediates phagocytosis, inflammation and cell adhesion. A soluble form of CD93 (sCD93) is released during inflammation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the serum sCD93 level and its association with clinical parameters in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum sCD93 levels were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 59 patients with SSc, 24 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and 47 healthy individuals. The expression of CD93 in skin tissues was examined immunohistochemically. In a retrospective longitudinal study, sera from 11 patients with SSc were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum sCD93 levels were increased in patients with SSc compared with healthy individuals (P<0·001). Patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc showed greater levels of sCD93 than those with limited cutaneous SSc (P<0·01) or systemic lupus erythematosus (P<0·01). Serum sCD93 levels correlated positively with the severity of skin sclerosis. Strong CD93 immunostaining was observed on endothelial cells in lesional skin tissues. In the longitudinal study, sCD93 levels decreased in parallel with improvement in skin sclerosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum sCD93 levels are increased in patients with SSc and correlate with the severity and activity of skin sclerosis. CD93 may contribute to the development of skin fibrosis in SSc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan. yanabak-der@h.u-tokyo.ac.jp
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yanaba
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Asano
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noda
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akamata
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aozasa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ichimura
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Toyama
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sumida
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kuwano
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tada
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sugaya
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kadono
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sato
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011951:Receptors, Complement / Q000378:metabolism*; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood*; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011951:Receptors, Complement; C032402:complement 1q receptor