Department of Evidence-Based Medicine, School of Public Health, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, P.R. China.
Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, P.R. China.
Immunol Invest. 2022 May;51(4):727-738. doi: 10.1080/08820139.2020.1869254. Epub 2021 Jan 17.
Interleukin-37 (IL-37) is an anti-inflammatory cytokine. In our former study, we found increased plasma IL-37 levels in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. However, relationship between IL-37 levels and clinical laboratory characteristics of SLE patients has not been elucidated. In addition, association of gene polymorphism with SLE risk needs to be discussed. A group of 580 individuals (220 SLE patients and 360 healthy controls) in a Southern Chinese Han population were recruited. Plasma IL-37 levels were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Four single-nucleotide polymorphisms (rs3811047, rs2723186, rs2723176 and rs4364030) of gene were genotyped. Relationship of IL-37 expression, gene polymorphisms and clinical characteristics was discussed. We found that plasma levels of IL-37 were negatively associated with SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) (r = -0.352, = .001), and were higher in less active patients compared with active patients ( = .003). Decreased levels of IL-37 were found in SLE patients with discoid rash when compared to patients who did not have this symptom ( < .001). Plasma IL-37 levels were significantly lower in patients with hypocomplementemia comparing to those without this feature ( = .009). Levels of IL-37 in SLE with positive proteinuria were lower than patients with negative proteinuria ( = .046). Furthermore, allele distribution of rs2723186, rs4364030 between SLE cases and healthy individuals was significantly different ( = .001, = .010, respectively). Genotype of rs4364030 was different between SLE cases and controls ( = .015). Haplotype analysis revealed that the frequency of haplotype CG (rs2723176 (C) +rs2723186 (G)) was higher in SLE, as compared with healthy individuals ( = .002). In conclusion, the plasma levels of IL-37 were related to SLE severity, and gene polymorphisms (rs2723186, rs2723176 and rs4364030) may associate with SLE susceptibility.
白细胞介素 37 (IL-37) 是一种抗炎细胞因子。在我们之前的研究中，我们发现系统性红斑狼疮 (SLE) 患者的血浆 IL-37 水平升高。然而，IL-37 水平与 SLE 患者的临床实验室特征之间的关系尚未阐明。此外，基因多态性与 SLE 风险的关联仍需探讨。在一个中国南方汉族人群中，我们招募了 580 名个体（220 名 SLE 患者和 360 名健康对照者）。使用酶联免疫吸附试验 (ELISA) 评估血浆 IL-37 水平。对 基因的 4 个单核苷酸多态性 (rs3811047、rs2723186、rs2723176 和 rs4364030) 进行了基因分型。讨论了 IL-37 表达、基因多态性与临床特征的关系。我们发现，血浆 IL-37 水平与 SLE 疾病活动指数 (SLEDAI) 呈负相关 (r = -0.352, =.001)，与活动期患者相比，不活动期患者的 IL-37 水平更高 ( =.003)。与无盘状皮疹的患者相比，患有盘状皮疹的 SLE 患者的 IL-37 水平较低 ( <.001)。与无低补体血症的患者相比，低补体血症患者的 IL-37 水平明显较低 ( =.009)。与无蛋白尿的患者相比，有蛋白尿的 SLE 患者的 IL-37 水平较低 ( =.046)。此外，SLE 病例与健康个体之间的 rs2723186、rs4364030 的等位基因分布差异有统计学意义 ( =.001、 =.010)。SLE 病例与对照组之间 rs4364030 的基因型不同 ( =.015)。单体型分析显示，与健康个体相比，SLE 中 rs2723176 (C) + rs2723186 (G) 的 CG 单体型频率较高 ( =.002)。综上所述，IL-37 的血浆水平与 SLE 的严重程度有关，而基因多态性 (rs2723186、rs2723176 和 rs4364030) 可能与 SLE 的易感性有关。
