SERUM LEVELS OF INTERLEUKIN-6 (IL-6), ONCOSTATIN-M, SOLUBLE IL-6 RECEPTOR, AND SOLUBLE GP130 IN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC-SCLEROSIS

Objective. To determine whether serum interleukin 6 (IL-6), oncostatin M (OSM), soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R), and soluble gp130 (sgp130) l evels in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) are elevated and wheth er they are correlated with the clinical or serological features of th e disease, Methods. Serum samples from patients with SSc (n = 55) and control subjects (n = 20) were investigated by ELISA. Patients were di vided into 4 groups: 12 with limited cutaneous SSc (ISSc) less than or equal to 3 years' duration (early ISSc), 22 with ISSc > 3 years' dura tion (late lSSc), 9 with diffuse cutaneous SSc (dSSc) less than or equ al to 3 years' duration (early dSSc, and 12 with dSSc > 3 years' durat ion (late dSSc). Results, Serum IL-6 levels were significantly elevate d in patients with early dSSc compared with controls. In addition, ser um IL-6 was detected more frequently in patients with pulmonary fibros is, and these values were inversely correlated with the percentage of vital capacity of individual patients. Furthermore, serum IL-6 levels were correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rates? C-reactive prote in, and IgG and IgA levels in patients. Serum sIL-6R levels were signi ficantly higher in patients with lSSc versus controls. Serum OSM and s gp130 levels were not significantly elevated in patients with SSc comp ared with controls. Conclusion, We suggest that IL-6 and sIL-6R may co ntribute to the disease process in SSc. In particular, IL-6 may be rel ated to the early phase of the disease and the development of pulmonar y fibrosis in SSc.