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Th1 and Th2 Chemokine Serum Levels in Systemic Sclerosis in the Presence or Absence of Autoimmune Thyroiditis
ALESSANDRO ANTONELLI, CLODOVEO FERRI, POUPAK FALLAHI, MICHELE COLACI, DILIA GIUGGIOLI, SILVIA MARTINA FERRARI, SILVIA FRASCERRA, FERDINANDO FRANZONI, FABIO GALETTA, and ELE FERRANNINI
ABSTRACT. Methods. Serum levels of CXCL10 and CCL2 chemokines, prototypes of the 2 major subclasses (Th1 and Th2), were measured in patients with newly diagnosed SSc with (n = 40; SSc-II) or without (n = 50; SSc-I) AT, in comparison with 50 normal controls (control-I) and 40 AT controls without SSc (control-II) (sex- and age-matched). Results. Serum CXCL10 levels were significantly higher in control-II, SSc-I, and SSc-II than in control-I (150 ± 131, 196 ± 137, 254 ± 98, 83 ± 42 pg/ml, respectively; p < 0.001 for all). SSc-I had serum CXCL10 levels significantly higher than control-II (p = 0.03), and significantly lower than SSc-II (p = 0.04). SSc-II had serum CXCL10 levels significantly higher than control-II (p = 0.002). Serum CCL2 levels were significantly higher in SSc-I and SSc-II than in control-I (378 ± 192, 403 ± 131, 316 ± 113 pg/ml, respectively; p = 0.03 and p < 0.01, respectively). SSc-II had serum CCL2 levels significantly higher than control-II (327 ± 123 pg/ml; p = 0.04). Conclusion. Our study demonstrates high serum levels of both CXCL10 (Th1) and CCL2 (Th2) chemokines in patients with SSc, and suggests a prevalence of Th1 immune response in the early phase of the disease. A further increase of serum CXCL10, but not of CCL2, is observed in SSc patients with AT. (First Release Aug 15 2008; J Rheumatol 2008;35:1809–11) Key Indexing Terms:
CXCL10 (IP-10)
From the Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pisa School of Medicine, Pisa; and the Rheumatology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Modena e Reggio E., Italy. A. Antonelli, MD; P. Fallahi, MD; S.M. Ferrari, MSc; S. Frascerra, MSc; F. Franzoni, MD; F. Galetta, MD; E. Ferrannini, MD, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pisa School of Medicine; C. Ferri, MD; M. Colaci, MD; D. Giuggioli, MD, Rheumatology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Modena e Reggio E. Address reprint requests to Dr. A. Antonelli, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pisa - School of Medicine, Via Roma, 67, I-56100, Pisa, Italy. E-mail: a.antonelli@med.unipi.it Accepted for publication April 4, 2008. |
