INTERLEUKIN-18-BINDING PROTEIN ISOFORM A (IL-18 BPA): SERUM LEVELS AND CLINICAL ASSOCIATIONS IN SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS PATIENTS

INTERLEUKIN-18-BINDING PROTEIN ISOFORM A (IL-18 BPA): SERUM LEVELS AND CLINICAL ASSOCIATIONS IN SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS PATIENTS

ALMEIDA, ANDERSON RODRIGUES DE; DANTAS, ANDRÉA TAVARES; GONÇALVES, MARIA EDUARDA DE OLIVEIRA; PEREIRA, MICHELLY CRISTINY; GONÇALVES, RAFAELA SILVA GUIMARÃES; REGO, MOACYR JESUS BARRETO DE MELO; DUARTE, ANGELA LUZIA BRANCO PINTO; ABDALLA, DULCINEIA SAES PARRA; PITTA, MAIRA GALDINO DA ROCHA

Pôster:

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by progressive fibrosis of the skin and internal organs, vascular changes and immunological dysregulation. The involvement of IL-18 and its signaling in the pathogenesis of SSc is not clear and the studies conducted have conflicting results. IL-18 signaling is controlled by the balance between IL-18 and IL-18 binding protein isoform a (IL-18 BPa), a receptor that acts as an inhibitor of IL-18 signaling. This study aimed to evaluate the serum levels of IL-18 BPa in SSc patients and the possible associations with the clinical manifestations of the disease.

Materials and methods

Sixty-one SSc patients (mean age 48.3 + 12.9) and sixty-one healthy volunteers (mean age 44.7 + 11.7) were enrolled in the study. All patients fulfilled the 1980 ACR or 2013 ACR/EULAR criteria. Clinical and laboratory parameters were recorded down from the medical charts. Serum levels of IL-18 BPa were quantified by ELISA (R&D).

Results

Serum levels of IL-18 BPa are significantly decreased in SSc patients compared to healthy subjects (median 10.846 pg/ml and 16.800 pg/ml, respectively) (p<0.0001). In the evaluation of the possible correlations and associations of serum levels of IL-18 BPa with the clinical parameters of the disease, it was possible to observe that serum levels of IL-18 BPa were significantly lower in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon (median 10.646 pg/ml, p= 0.019), digital ulcers (9.846 pg/ml, p= 0.036) and arthritis (median 9.471, p= 0.039), when compared with patients without these manifestations (medians: 15.621, 12.771 and 11.358 pg/ml, respectively). Additionally, it was observed that patients with myopathy had higher IL-18 BPa levels when compared to those without this condition (medians: 14.050 and 10.346 pg/ml, p= 0.006). No other clinical associations were observed.

Conclusion

These findings show a significant reduction in serum levels of IL-18 BPa in patients with systemic sclerosis when compared with healthy individuals and suggest this cytokine as a possible biomarker of vascular and musculoskeletal manifestations of the disease. Further studies are needed to address the role of IL-18 BPa in the pathogenesis of SSc.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by progressive fibrosis of the skin and internal organs, vascular changes and immunological dysregulation. The involvement of IL-18 and its signaling in the pathogenesis of SSc is not clear and the studies conducted have conflicting results. IL-18 signaling is controlled by the balance between IL-18 and IL-18 binding protein isoform a (IL-18 BPa), a receptor that acts as an inhibitor of IL-18 signaling. This study aimed to evaluate the serum levels of IL-18 BPa in SSc patients and the possible associations with the clinical manifestations of the disease.

Materials and methods

Sixty-one SSc patients (mean age 48.3 + 12.9) and sixty-one healthy volunteers (mean age 44.7 + 11.7) were enrolled in the study. All patients fulfilled the 1980 ACR or 2013 ACR/EULAR criteria. Clinical and laboratory parameters were recorded down from the medical charts. Serum levels of IL-18 BPa were quantified by ELISA (R&D).

Results

Serum levels of IL-18 BPa are significantly decreased in SSc patients compared to healthy subjects (median 10.846 pg/ml and 16.800 pg/ml, respectively) (p<0.0001). In the evaluation of the possible correlations and associations of serum levels of IL-18 BPa with the clinical parameters of the disease, it was possible to observe that serum levels of IL-18 BPa were significantly lower in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon (median 10.646 pg/ml, p= 0.019), digital ulcers (9.846 pg/ml, p= 0.036) and arthritis (median 9.471, p= 0.039), when compared with patients without these manifestations (medians: 15.621, 12.771 and 11.358 pg/ml, respectively). Additionally, it was observed that patients with myopathy had higher IL-18 BPa levels when compared to those without this condition (medians: 14.050 and 10.346 pg/ml, p= 0.006). No other clinical associations were observed.

Conclusion

These findings show a significant reduction in serum levels of IL-18 BPa in patients with systemic sclerosis when compared with healthy individuals and suggest this cytokine as a possible biomarker of vascular and musculoskeletal manifestations of the disease. Further studies are needed to address the role of IL-18 BPa in the pathogenesis of SSc.

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DOI: 10.5151/sbr2019-485

Referências bibliográficas

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Como citar:

ALMEIDA, ANDERSON RODRIGUES DE; DANTAS, ANDRÉA TAVARES; GONÇALVES, MARIA EDUARDA DE OLIVEIRA; PEREIRA, MICHELLY CRISTINY; GONÇALVES, RAFAELA SILVA GUIMARÃES; REGO, MOACYR JESUS BARRETO DE MELO; DUARTE, ANGELA LUZIA BRANCO PINTO; ABDALLA, DULCINEIA SAES PARRA; PITTA, MAIRA GALDINO DA ROCHA; "INTERLEUKIN-18-BINDING PROTEIN ISOFORM A (IL-18 BPA): SERUM LEVELS AND CLINICAL ASSOCIATIONS IN SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS PATIENTS", p-485-485. In: Anais do 36º Congresso Brasileiro de Reumatologia. [ISBN 978-85-212-1892-0]. São Paulo: Blucher, 2019.
ISSN 23577282, DOI 10.5151/sbr2019-485