RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 HLA-G Expression in the Skin of Patients with Systemic Sclerosis
JF The Journal of Rheumatology
JO J Rheumatol
FD The Journal of Rheumatology
SP jrheum.080552
DO 10.3899/jrheum.080552
A1 Isabela J. Wastowski
A1 Percival D. Sampaio-Barros
A1 Eliane M.I. Amstalden
A1 Gustavo Martelli Palomino
A1 João Francisco Marques-Neto
A1 Janaina C.O. Crispim
A1 Ana C. Biral
A1 Diane M. Rassi
A1 Edgardo D. Carosella
A1 Philippe Moreau
A1 Eduardo A. Donadi
YR 2009
UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/early/2009/04/14/jrheum.080552.abstract
AB Objective To determine HLA-G expression in skin biopsies from patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), and its association with epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory variables and survival. Methods Paraffin-embedded skin biopsies obtained from 21 SSc patients (14 limited SSc, 7 diffuse SSc) and from 28 healthy controls were studied. HLA-G expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Results HLA-G molecules were detected in 57% of skin biopsies from patients with SSc (9 from limited SSc, 3 from diffuse SSc), whereas no control sample expressed HLA-G (p = 0.000004). In patients, HLA-G molecules were consistently observed within epidermal and some dermal cells. HLA-G expression was associated with a lower frequency of vascular cutaneous ulcers (p = 0.0004), telangiectasias (p = 0.008), and inflammatory polyarthralgia (p = 0.02). After a 15-year followup, SSc patients who exhibited HLA-G survived longer than patients who did not. Conclusion HLA-G is expressed in skin biopsies from patients with SSc, and this is associated with a better disease prognosis. This suggests a modulatory role of HLA-G in SSc, as observed in other skin disorders.