Abstract
Objective
We evaluated contemporarily serum alpha and beta chemokines in patients with newly diagnosed systemic sclerosis (SSc) in the presence or absence of autoimmune thyroiditis (AT).
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.
Key Indexing Terms:Footnotes
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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.
- Accepted for publication April 4, 2008.