title: The Interleukin 33/ST2 axis in patients with primary Sjögren syndrome: expression in serum and salivary glands, and the clinical association.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the expression of interleukin 33 (IL-33) and its receptor in sera and salivary tissues of patients with primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS), and to investigate the association with clinical profiles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum IL-33 and soluble ST2 (sST2) of 55 patients with pSS and 48 controls were determined by ELISA and assessed for clinical correlation. The expression of IL-33/ST2 in salivary tissues was investigated by immunohistochemical staining and was further characterized by confocal microscopy. We also measured IL-33 production in salivary glandular epithelial cells by proinflammatory stimuli.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum levels of IL-33 and sST2 were higher in patients with pSS compared to those in controls (p = 0.018 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Among patients with pSS, sST2 concentration was associated with thrombocytopenia (p = 0.029) and correlated with disease duration (p = 0.013) and the European League Against Rheumatism Sjögren Syndrome Disease Activity Index (p = 0.042). The expression of IL-33 and ST2 was elevated in salivary glands of patients with pSS with grade 2 inflammation, and diminished in advanced inflammation. In patients with pSS, IL-33 was mainly observed in epithelial and endothelial cells of glandular tissue. The production of IL-33 mRNA by salivary gland epithelial cell line increased under stimulation with interferon-γ.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expression of IL-33 and its receptor was elevated in sera and salivary tissues of patients with pSS. These results suggest that the IL-33/ST2 axis might have a role in the pathogenesis of pSS.
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital; the Rheumatism Research Center, Catholic Research Institute of Medical Science, Seoul, South Korea.SM. Jung, MD, Clinical Fellow; JH. Lee, MD, Clinical Fellow; J. Lee, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor; K-S. Park, MD, PhD, Professor; S-H. Park, MD, PhD, Professor; H-Y. Kim, MD, PhD, Professor; S-K. Kwok, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, and the Rheumatism Research Center, Catholic Research Institute of Medical Science, The Catholic University of Korea; J. Lee, MS, Research Associate; S.Y. Baek, BA, Research Assistant, the Rheumatism Research Center, Catholic Research Institute of Medical Science, The Catholic University of Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital; the Rheumatism Research Center, Catholic Research Institute of Medical Science, Seoul, South Korea.SM. Jung, MD, Clinical Fellow; JH. Lee, MD, Clinical Fellow; J. Lee, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor; K-S. Park, MD, PhD, Professor; S-H. Park, MD, PhD, Professor; H-Y. Kim, MD, PhD, Professor; S-K. Kwok, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, and the Rheumatism Research Center, Catholic Research Institute of Medical Science, The Catholic University of Korea; J. Lee, MS, Research Associate; S.Y. Baek, BA, Research Assistant, the Rheumatism Research Center, Catholic Research Institute of Medical Science, The Catholic University of Korea.
authors.forename: Jaeseon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital; the Rheumatism Research Center, Catholic Research Institute of Medical Science, Seoul, South Korea.SM. Jung, MD, Clinical Fellow; JH. Lee, MD, Clinical Fellow; J. Lee, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor; K-S. Park, MD, PhD, Professor; S-H. Park, MD, PhD, Professor; H-Y. Kim, MD, PhD, Professor; S-K. Kwok, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, and the Rheumatism Research Center, Catholic Research Institute of Medical Science, The Catholic University of Korea; J. Lee, MS, Research Associate; S.Y. Baek, BA, Research Assistant, the Rheumatism Research Center, Catholic Research Institute of Medical Science, The Catholic University of Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Ye
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital; the Rheumatism Research Center, Catholic Research Institute of Medical Science, Seoul, South Korea.SM. Jung, MD, Clinical Fellow; JH. Lee, MD, Clinical Fellow; J. Lee, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor; K-S. Park, MD, PhD, Professor; S-H. Park, MD, PhD, Professor; H-Y. Kim, MD, PhD, Professor; S-K. Kwok, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, and the Rheumatism Research Center, Catholic Research Institute of Medical Science, The Catholic University of Korea; J. Lee, MS, Research Associate; S.Y. Baek, BA, Research Assistant, the Rheumatism Research Center, Catholic Research Institute of Medical Science, The Catholic University of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital; the Rheumatism Research Center, Catholic Research Institute of Medical Science, Seoul, South Korea.SM. Jung, MD, Clinical Fellow; JH. Lee, MD, Clinical Fellow; J. Lee, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor; K-S. Park, MD, PhD, Professor; S-H. Park, MD, PhD, Professor; H-Y. Kim, MD, PhD, Professor; S-K. Kwok, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, and the Rheumatism Research Center, Catholic Research Institute of Medical Science, The Catholic University of Korea; J. Lee, MS, Research Associate; S.Y. Baek, BA, Research Assistant, the Rheumatism Research Center, Catholic Research Institute of Medical Science, The Catholic University of Korea.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital; the Rheumatism Research Center, Catholic Research Institute of Medical Science, Seoul, South Korea.SM. Jung, MD, Clinical Fellow; JH. Lee, MD, Clinical Fellow; J. Lee, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor; K-S. Park, MD, PhD, Professor; S-H. Park, MD, PhD, Professor; H-Y. Kim, MD, PhD, Professor; S-K. Kwok, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, and the Rheumatism Research Center, Catholic Research Institute of Medical Science, The Catholic University of Korea; J. Lee, MS, Research Associate; S.Y. Baek, BA, Research Assistant, the Rheumatism Research Center, Catholic Research Institute of Medical Science, The Catholic University of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Su
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital; the Rheumatism Research Center, Catholic Research Institute of Medical Science, Seoul, South Korea.SM. Jung, MD, Clinical Fellow; JH. Lee, MD, Clinical Fellow; J. Lee, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor; K-S. Park, MD, PhD, Professor; S-H. Park, MD, PhD, Professor; H-Y. Kim, MD, PhD, Professor; S-K. Kwok, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, and the Rheumatism Research Center, Catholic Research Institute of Medical Science, The Catholic University of Korea; J. Lee, MS, Research Associate; S.Y. Baek, BA, Research Assistant, the Rheumatism Research Center, Catholic Research Institute of Medical Science, The Catholic University of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital; the Rheumatism Research Center, Catholic Research Institute of Medical Science, Seoul, South Korea.SM. Jung, MD, Clinical Fellow; JH. Lee, MD, Clinical Fellow; J. Lee, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor; K-S. Park, MD, PhD, Professor; S-H. Park, MD, PhD, Professor; H-Y. Kim, MD, PhD, Professor; S-K. Kwok, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, and the Rheumatism Research Center, Catholic Research Institute of Medical Science, The Catholic University of Korea; J. Lee, MS, Research Associate; S.Y. Baek, BA, Research Assistant, the Rheumatism Research Center, Catholic Research Institute of Medical Science, The Catholic University of Korea.
authors.forename: Ho-Youn
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital; the Rheumatism Research Center, Catholic Research Institute of Medical Science, Seoul, South Korea.SM. Jung, MD, Clinical Fellow; JH. Lee, MD, Clinical Fellow; J. Lee, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor; K-S. Park, MD, PhD, Professor; S-H. Park, MD, PhD, Professor; H-Y. Kim, MD, PhD, Professor; S-K. Kwok, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, and the Rheumatism Research Center, Catholic Research Institute of Medical Science, The Catholic University of Korea; J. Lee, MS, Research Associate; S.Y. Baek, BA, Research Assistant, the Rheumatism Research Center, Catholic Research Institute of Medical Science, The Catholic University of Korea. seungki73@catholic.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Seung-Ki
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kwok
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000072179:Interleukin-1 Receptor-Like 1 Protein; D000067596:Interleukin-33; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C079241:IL1RL1 protein, human; C506536:IL33 protein, human; D000072179:Interleukin-1 Receptor-Like 1 Protein; D000067596:Interleukin-33; D007378:Interleukins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface
keywords: INTERLEUKIN 33; SJÖGREN SYNDROME; ST2