title: Interleukin-27 and interleukin-23 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: possible role in lupus nephritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the concentration of interleukin (IL)-27 and IL-23 in serum and urine of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) compared with healthy controls (HC).
  
  
  METHODS
  An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to analyse the serum and urine concentration of IL-27 and IL-23 from 50 patients with lupus nephritis (LN), 55 patients without LN, and 30 HC. The correlations between the levels of IL-27, IL-23, and disease activity, clinical parameters in SLE patients were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of IL-27 and IL-23 increased significantly in the serum and urine of SLE patients with and without LN compared with HC. Moreover, urine levels of IL-27 and IL-23 were correlated with the renal SLE Disease Activity Index (rSLEDAI) score and 24-h urinary protein levels. After 6 months of immunosuppressive treatment, urine IL-27 expression rose significantly in SLE patients with LN.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IL-27 and IL-23 may be involved in the pathogenesis of LN.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Rheumatology, 1st Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University , Shenyang , PR China.
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: B F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000652:urine; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000652:urine; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000276:immunology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D053759:Interleukin-23; D007378:Interleukins; C464565:MYDGF protein, human