Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.
Lupus. 2011 Aug;20(9):904-11. doi: 10.1177/0961203311398515. Epub 2011 May 11.
The objective of this study was to investigate the expression and relationship of LL-37, plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) and interferon-alpha (IFN-α) in skin in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and their role in SLE pathogenesis. Skin biopsies were taken from nine SLE patients and six healthy volunteers. Expression of LL-37, pDCs and IFN-α in skin specimens and consecutive sections of skin was detected with an immunohistochemical technique (IH); the expression of LL-37 and pDCs in the samples was detected with in situ hybridization (ISH). The expression levels of LL-37, pDCs and IFN-α were significantly higher in SLE skin than in that of healthy controls (p < 0.001) with either the IH or the ISH technique, and the location of positive expression in consecutive sections was similar. Correlation analysis showed that the expression levels of LL-37, pDCs and IFN-α correlated positively with each other. In conclusion, the expression of LL-37, pDCs and IFN-α was increased in the skin of patients with active SLE. It is necessary to study further the role of LL-37 in the pathogenesis of SLE, and the exact relationship among LL-37, pDCs and IFN-α.
本研究旨在探讨全身性红斑狼疮（SLE）患者皮肤中 LL-37、浆细胞样树突状细胞（pDC）和干扰素-α（IFN-α）的表达及相互关系，及其在 SLE 发病机制中的作用。从 9 例 SLE 患者和 6 例健康志愿者中获取皮肤活检标本。采用免疫组织化学（IH）技术检测皮肤标本和连续切片中 LL-37、pDC 和 IFN-α的表达；采用原位杂交（ISH）技术检测皮肤标本中 LL-37 和 pDC 的表达。无论采用 IH 还是 ISH 技术，SLE 皮肤中 LL-37、pDC 和 IFN-α的表达水平均明显高于健康对照组（p<0.001），且连续切片中的阳性表达位置相似。相关性分析显示，LL-37、pDC 和 IFN-α 的表达水平呈正相关。结论：活动期 SLE 患者皮肤中 LL-37、pDC 和 IFN-α 的表达增加。有必要进一步研究 LL-37 在 SLE 发病机制中的作用，以及 LL-37、pDC 和 IFN-α 之间的确切关系。
