ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the expressions of interleukin-33 (IL-33),soluble growth stimulation expressed gene 2 (sST2) and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) in the patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and their correlations.Methods Serum IL-33,sST2 and TGF-β1 levels from 25 SSc patients and 25 healthy controls were determined by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The expressions of IL-33 in the damaged skin tissue of SSc patients and normal skin tissue were detected with the immunohistochemical staining.Results Serum IL-33 and TGF-β1 levels in SSc patients were significantly higher than that in healthy controls (P ＜ 0.05),and serum IL-33 levels were positively correlated with TGF-β1 levels in SSc patients (P ＜ 0.05).Immunohistochemical staining results showed that the expression level of IL-33 in the damaged skin tissue of SSc patients were significantly higher than that in normal skin tissue (P ＜ 0.05).However,there was no significant difference in the expression level of sST2 between SSc patinets and healthy controls.Conclusion Serum IL-33 levels in SSc patients increase significantly,which is correlated with the expression of TGF-β1,indicating that IL-33 may play an important role in the process of inflammation and fibrosis of SSc via the regulation of TGF-β1.
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the clinical features of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies-associated vasculitis com-bined with pulmonary fibrosis and the relationship of laboratory results.Methods Totally,33 patients with antineutrophil cyto-plasmic antibodies-associated vasculitis were divided into pulmonary fibrosis group(group A)and non-pulmonary fibrosis group (group B).Fourteen patients with connective tissue diseases-related pulmonary fibrosis served as disease control group,and 12 healthy people as normal control group.The levels of ANCA,plasma creatinine,high-sensitivity C-reactive protein,fibrinogen and D-dimer were detected.Results The creatinine level was significantly higher in group B than in disease control group and normal control group.The creatinine level was higher in group A than in disease control group and normal control group,with-out significant differences.The levels of FIB,D-D,and hsCRP were significantly higher in the group A,group B and disease con-trol group(all P< 0.05).In the group A,MPO expression was positively associated with FIB concentration(r= 0.64,P<0.05).Conclusion In pulmonary fibrosis disease,early detection of ANCA has clinical value in the diagnosis of AASV.And the higher concentration of M PO may hint thrombus formation.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigated the association of serum level of growth arrest-specific protein 6 (Gas6) with the disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Methods The expression levels of Gas6 were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay in 102 SLE patients and 67 healthy persons; and statistical methods were used to analyze the expressions of Gas6 in the patients with different clinical symptoms. Results The expression of Gas6 was significantly higher in the SLE group [54.59 (2.41 ~ 614.93) ng/mL] than in the healthy control group [19.22 (15.06 ~ 384.93) ng/mL, P < 0.05]. And serum Gas6 levels were significantly higher in the patients with dsDNA (+) , renal disorder , rash and vasculitis than the patients without symptoms (P < 0.05). The expression of Gas6 was correlated with SLEDAI significantly (r = 0.569, P < 0.01). Conclusions Gas6 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE and it is an effective biomarker for the disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.