Elevated Expression and Pro-Inflammatory Activity of IL-36 in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

ABSTRACT: We investigated the expression and proinflammatory activity of interleukin (IL)-36 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The expression level of IL-36, its putative receptors and the frequency of CD19?CD24(high)CD27? regulatory B (Breg) lymphocytes of peripheral blood from 43 SLE patients and 16 normal control (NC) subjects were studied using ELISA and flow cytometry. Plasma cytokines/chemokines and ex vivo productions of cytokine/chemokine from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) stimulated with recombinant IL-36 were determined by Luminex multiplex assay. Plasma concentrations of IL-36?, IL-36? and the proportions of circulating IL-36R-positive CD19? B lymphocytes in total B lymphocytes and PBMC were significantly increased in active SLE patients compared with NC (all p < 0.05). Plasma IL-36? and IL-36? correlated positively with SLE disease activity and elevated plasma IL-10 concentration (all p < 0.05). The frequencies of circulating Breg lymphocytes in total B lymphocytes and PBMC were significantly decreased in both inactive and active SLE patients compared with NC (all p < 0.01). The frequency of Breg lymphocytes in total B lymphocytes correlated negatively with the proportion of IL-36R-positive B lymphocytes (p < 0.05). IL-36? exerted substantial proinflammatory effect in PBMC from SLE patients by inducing the production of IL-6 and CXCL8. Upon stimulation with IL-36? and IL-36?, ex vivo productions of IL-6 and CXCL8 were significantly increased in SLE patients compared with NC (all p < 0.05). This cross-sectional study demonstrated that over expression of circulating IL-36? may exert a proinflammatory effect as observed in human SLE.

SUBMITTER: Chu M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6332178 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature