| [Objective]:Recent accumulating evidence indicates a crucial involvement of macrophage lineage in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Our study aims to analyse the difference in circulating levels of M2macrophage related soluble markers between SSc patients and healthy controls.[Methods]:Serum or plasma samples were obtained from174patients with SSc treated at Peking Union Medical College Hosipital from2009to2011. All patients fulfilled the criteria proposed by the American College of Rheumatology. Control serum or plasma samples were also collected from healthy age-and sex-matched volunteers. Levels of circulating sCD163, Galectin-3, TGF-β1, CCL18, IL-10were measured with ELISA kits. Statistical analysis of the clinical manifestations as well as serum antibodies spectrum was carried out with the Mann-Whitney test and correlations between parameters were calculated using Spearman rank correlation coefficient.[Results]:1) Mean serum sCD163levels were significantly higher in SSc patients than healthy controls (843.64±329.59vs.587.10±164.27ng/ml, P<0.001). Patients with Scl70antibody had a significantly lower mean sCD163concentration than patients without Scl70antibody (746.04±276.62ng/ml vs.926.36±349.94ng/ml, P=0.005). Patients with proteinuria had a significantly higher mean sCD163concentration than patients without proteinuria (1016.84±273.24ng/ml vs.826.15±330.89ng/ml, P=0.047). A positive correlation between patients’age and sCD163serum concentration (r=0.228, P=0.009, n=109) was detected.2) The serum Galectin-3levels, Median (25,75percentiles), were significantly higher in SSc patients than healthy controls [937.03pg/ml (793.44,1148.22) vs.801.19pg/ml (725.13,934.35), P<0.001].3) Mean plasma CCL18levels were significantly higher in SSc patients than healthy controls (29.02±19.15vs.15.63±4.38pg/ml,P<0.001). Patients with Scl70antibody had a significantly higher mean CCL18concentration than patients without Scl70antibody (34.37±20.05pg/ml vs.25.58±17.13pg/ml, P=0.040). Patients with proteinuria had a higher mean CCL18concentration than patients without proteinuria (44.52±22.85pg/ml vs.26.29±16.61pg/ml, P=0.007). Patients with arthralgia had a lower mean CCL18concentration than patients without arthralgia (24.27±15.07pg/ml vs. 34.07±20.93pg/ml, P=0.020). Patients with pitting ulcer had a higher mean CCL18concentration than patients without arthralgia (36.29±18.22pg/ml vs.27.30±18.57pg/ml, P=0.048). CCL18plasma concentration displayed a negative correlation with%TLC (r=-0.283,P=0.012, n=63) as well as%DLco (r=-0.291, P=0.01, n=63) and a positive correlation between patients’age (r=0.303, P=0.007, n=65).4) Mean plasma TGF-β1levels were significantly higher in SSc patients than healthy controls (2381.53±1289.03vs.1473.48±370.85pg/ml, P<0.001). The plasma TGF-β1levels, Median (25,75percentiles), were significantly higher in patients with Scl70antibody than patients without Scl70antibody [2258.63pg/ml (1620.78,3963.38) vs.1645.36pg/ml (1294.61,2745.74),P=0.036]. A positive correlation between patients’age and TGF-β1plasma concentration (r=0.246, P=0.025, n=65) was detected.5) dcSSc patients had significantly higher IL-10plasma levels than lcSSc patients (6.54±4.40vs.5.14±5.38pg/ml, P=0.033). IL-10plasma concentration displayed a negative correlation with%TLC (r=-0.331, P=0.004, n=63) as well as%DLco (r=-0.278, P=0.014, n=63) and a positive correlation with RVSP (r=0.222, P^0.040, n=63).[Conclusions]:Patients with SSc have significantly higher circulating sCD163, Galectin-3, CCL18and TGF-β1concentrations compared to healthy controls; Moreover a number of SSc clinical manisfections as well as parameters were associated with circulating sCD163, CCL18, TGF-β1and IL-10levels; The M2macrophage may play a role in pathogenesis of SSc. |
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