A comparative study of modulatory interaction between cytokines and apoptotic proteins among Scleroderma patients with and without pulmonary involvement. (June 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Khadilkar, Prasad; Chougule, Durga; Tipnis, Tanaya; Khopkar, Uday; Nadkar, Milind; Rajadhyaksha, Anjali; Kini, Seema; Kharkar, Vidya; Athvale, Amita; Athvale, Tanya; Madkaikar, Manisha; Pradhan, Vandana
• Is Part Of: Cytokine. Volume 166(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-06
• Subjects: Scleroderma -- mRSS score -- Cytokines -- Apoptotic proteins -- Pulmonary involvement -- Autoantibodies; ILD Interstitial Lung Disease -- PAH Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension -- SSc Scleroderma -- SSc-PAH Scleroderma with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension -- SSc-ILD Scleroderma with Interstitial Lung Disease. -- np-SSc Scleroderma patients without pulmonary involvement -- SSc-PI Scleroderma patients with pulmonary involvement -- HRCT High Resolution Computed Tomography -- mRSS Modified Rodnan Skin Score -- LcSSC limited cutaneous Scleroderma -- DcSSc diffused cutaneous Scleroderma -- ACR American College of Rheumatology -- EULAR European League Against Rheumatism -- Pg/mL Picogram per millilitre -- TGF β Transforming Growth Factor Beta -- IL Interleukin -- IFN-γ Interferon gamma -- TNF-α Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha; Cytokines -- Periodicals; 571.844
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2023.156183
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-4666

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Abstract: Background: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) are the most eminent forms of pulmonary involvement in Scleroderma. In this study we investigate the interaction between cytokines and apoptotic proteins in treatment naive Scleroderma (SSc) patients with and without pulmonary involvement. Methods: Newly diagnosed treatment naïve Scleroderma (SSc) patients (n = 100) and healthy controls (n = 100) were enrolled. Patients were classified as ILD-SSc, PAH-SSc and non-pulmonary SSc (np-SSc). Study variables like mRSS score, autoantibody profile, serum cytokines, serum TGF-β (1, 2, 3) and apoptotic proteins were assessed for these patients. Results: Scleroderma patients showed elevated levels of serum cytokines, but significantly lower IL-22 and TGF- β1 when compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05) . Apoptotic proteins were significantly elevated among Scleroderma patients, but the patient groups also showed significant lower caspase 1/3/9 levels when compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05) . ILD-SSc patients reported higher mRSS score (p = 0.0436) when compared with PAH-SSc and np-SSc. In ILD-SSc patients, finger tightening (p = 0.0481) and calcinosis/lesions (p = 0.0481) were significant clinical presentations whereas, digital ulcers were significantly prominent in np-SSc patients (p = 0.0132) . Elevated TGF-β3 levels (p = 0.02) in SSC-ILD and reduced IL-4 levels (p = 0.02) in SSC-PAH were significant cytokines as compared to np-SSc. Significant correlations were obtained among serum cytokines and apoptotic proteins in Scleroderma patients with and without pulmonary involvement. (p < 0.05) Conclusion: Our study highlights the correlation between mRSS score, cytokines and apoptotic proteins in SSc patients with pulmonary involvement. A longitudinal follow up in these patients with assessment of these immunological parameters may be helpful in monitoring the disease.