RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the serum levels of soluble oncostatin M (OSM), OSM receptor (sOSMR) and glycoprotein130 (sgp130) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), and the possible associations and correlations with clinical parameters. METHODS: Serum levels of OSM, sOSMR and sgp130 were evaluated by ELISA in eighty-four SSc patients and eighty-four healthy volunteers. RESULTS: SSc patients had significantly elevated levels of sOSMR and sgp130 when compared with healthy individuals (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.025, respectively). Diffuse cutaneous SSc and limited cutaneous SSc patients also presented higher levels of sOSMR when compared with healthy individuals (p = 0.003 and p = 0.0001, respectively). Patients with digital ulcers presented higher levels of sOSMR when compared to those without ulcers (p = 0.034). However, sOSMR levels were lower in patients with esophageal dysfunction than patients without this involvement (p = 0.038). OSM levels were undetectable in serum from SSc patients and healthy volunteers. CONCLUSION: Serum levels of sOSMR and sgp130 are elevated in patients with systemic sclerosis. In addition, associations were observed with important clinical manifestations, suggesting that sOSMR is a candidate biomarker of this disease. More studies are needed to clarify the functions of IL-6 family cytokines in systemic sclerosis.
Assuntos
Biomarcadores , Receptor gp130 de Citocina/sangue , Subunidade beta de Receptor de Oncostatina M/sangue , Escleroderma Sistêmico/sangue , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Citocinas/sangue , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Fibrose , Humanos , Escleroderma Sistêmico/diagnósticoRESUMO
Increased interleukin-6 (IL-6) plasma levels have been described to occur during physical exercise. A relative reduction in energy intake after physical activity has also been reported after exercise, indicating a possible involvement of IL-6 as an anorexigenic factor. Given the possible effect of interleukins on appetite, we assessed whether a controlled physical activity bout is related with changes in IL-6, IL-6 soluble receptor (IL-6sR), gp130 and interleukin-18 (IL-18) plasma levels, as well as their relation with post-exercise energy intake. A co-twin intervention study was carried out with five young male monozygotic twin pairs. One co-twin performed 45 min of submaximal exercise on a treadmill near the anaerobic threshold ending with 7 min at 90 % VO(2) max, while his co-twin remained non-active. Ad libitum energy intake was tested through a carbohydrate-rich meal test. Venous blood samples were drawn at baseline, immediately after exercise and after the meal ingestion. Plasma concentrations of IL-6, IL-6sR, gp130 and IL-18 were measured via ELISA. IL-6 plasma levels increased after physical activity bout (2.6-fold change; p = 0.04). A less marked trend, although still significant, was observed for plasma levels of IL-6sR and gp130. Plasma levels of IL-18 did not significantly change during exercise. The twins who exercised exhibited significantly lower energy intake (181 versus 1,195 kcal; p = 0.04), compared to the co-twins who remained resting. The present study in monozygotic twins shows increased IL-6 plasma levels after acute physical exercise with a significant reduction in energy intake, supporting a linkage between IL-6 and acute post-exercise eating behaviour.
Assuntos
Ingestão de Energia , Exercício Físico/fisiologia , Interleucina-18/sangue , Interleucina-6/sangue , Gêmeos Monozigóticos , Adolescente , Apetite/fisiologia , Receptor gp130 de Citocina/sangue , Comportamento Alimentar , Humanos , Masculino , Receptores de Interleucina-6/sangue , Solubilidade , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Pregnancy constitutes a major challenge to the maternal immune system, as it requires tolerance of paternal alloantigen. Maternal rejection of the fetus may develop when T regulatory (Treg) cells fail to control the balance between tolerance and immunity. Increasing evidence supports the role of IL-6 trans-signaling within T cells as a key pathway for blockade of the development of adaptive Treg cells. The present study investigated whether alteration of the components of the IL-6 trans-signaling might be a mechanism associated with modified immune responses in patients experiencing recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). In contrast with control women, sera from RSA women induced an enhanced mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) against paternal PBMCs, showing increased proliferation and lack of MLR-blocking factor activity. The sera from RSA women inhibited expansion of the FOXP3+ T cell population in TCR-activated PBMCs and showed an imbalance in levels of soluble components of the IL-6 trans-signaling pathway. In comparison with fertile women, those with RSA showed significantly increased levels of soluble IL-6 receptor and IL-6, and decreased levels of soluble gp130, the trans-signaling inhibitor. Finally we found that paternal alloimmunization acts to modulate serum levels of factors involved in the IL-6 trans-signaling pathway and increases the frequency of Treg cells. Consequently, women with reproductive failure show evidence of alteration in the IL-6 trans-signaling pathway which might be associated with abnormal performance of Treg cells in mediating feto-maternal tolerance.