title: Interferons and systemic sclerosis: correlation between interferon gamma and interferon-lambda 1 (IL-29).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Interferon (IFN)-λ1 is a newly described cytokine, member of type III interferons family, which is known for its antiviral, anti-proliferative and antitumor activity. Recent studies indicated that this cytokine has also immune-regulatory function, but its role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases is not established yet. We evaluated serum levels of IFN-λ1 in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients and healthy controls and its association with IFN-γ and clinical manifestations.
  
  
  METHODS
  IFN-λ1 and IFN-γ serum levels were measured by ELISA from 52 patients with SSc and 53 healthy controls. Association of cytokines serum levels was sought with clinical parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IFN-λ1 and IFN-γ levels in SSc patients were significantly higher than those in healthy individuals (24.82 ± 8.78 and 11.04 ± 3.04 pg/ml, p < 0.0001; 34.11 ± 8.11 and 10.73 ± 2.77 pg/ml, p < 0.0001, respectively). We found a positive correlation between IFN-λ1 and IFN-γ levels in SSc patients (p = 0.0103, r = 0.3526). IFN-γ levels were associated with muscle involvement (p = 0.0483).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We first showed raised IFN-λ1 levels in SSc patients. Furthermore, we found a correlation between IFN-λ1 and IFN-γ levels and an association between IFN-γ and myositis. Additional in vitro and in vivo studies are needed to understand IFN-λ1 role in SSc.
authors.affiliation: a Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE) , Brazil .|b Laboratório de Imunomodulação e Novas Abordagens Terapêuticas da UFPE , Brazil , and.
authors.forename: Andréa Tavares
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Dantas
authors.affiliation: b Laboratório de Imunomodulação e Novas Abordagens Terapêuticas da UFPE , Brazil , and.
authors.forename: Sayonara Maria Calado
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: b Laboratório de Imunomodulação e Novas Abordagens Terapêuticas da UFPE , Brazil , and.
authors.forename: Michelly Cristiny
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: b Laboratório de Imunomodulação e Novas Abordagens Terapêuticas da UFPE , Brazil , and.
authors.forename: Anderson Rodrigues
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: de Almeida
authors.affiliation: a Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE) , Brazil .
authors.forename: Cláudia Diniz Lopes
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.affiliation: b Laboratório de Imunomodulação e Novas Abordagens Terapêuticas da UFPE , Brazil , and.
authors.forename: Moacyr Jesus Barreto de Melo
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rego
authors.affiliation: c Laboratório de Planejamento e Síntese de Fármacos da UFPE, Recife , Brazil.
authors.forename: Ivan da Rocha
authors.initials: Ida R
authors.lastname: Pitta
authors.affiliation: a Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE) , Brazil .
authors.forename: Angela Luzia Branco Pinto
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.affiliation: b Laboratório de Imunomodulação e Novas Abordagens Terapêuticas da UFPE , Brazil , and.
authors.forename: Maira Galdino da Rocha
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Pitta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009220:Myositis / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D000095022:Interferon Lambda
chemical_list: D007371:Interferon-gamma; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins; C000624353:interferon-lambda, human; D000095022:Interferon Lambda
keywords: Cytokine; interferon-gamma; interferon-lambda1; interleukin-29; scleroderma