Vol 47, No 3 (2009)
Original paper
Submitted: 2011-12-19
Published online: 2010-02-19
Diminished production of TWEAK by the peripheral blood mononuclear cells is associated with vascular involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis.
Marek Bielecki, Krzysztof Kowal, Anna Lapinska, Justyna Chwiecko, Jan Skowronski, Stanislaw Sierakowski, Lech Chyczewski, Otylia Kowal-Bielecka
DOI: 10.2478/v10042-009-0103-2
·
Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2009;47(3):465-469.
Vol 47, No 3 (2009)
ORIGINAL PAPERS
Submitted: 2011-12-19
Published online: 2010-02-19
Abstract
Widespread vasculopathy and profound fibrosis are key features of the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc). We hypothesized that the TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK), a recently recognized multifunctional cytokine which regulates angiogenesis and tissue remodeling, may play a role in the development of SSc. The production of TWEAK by the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was investigated, by means of ELISA, in 24 SSc patients and 14 healthy subjects. Moreover, production of TWEAK was correlated with clinical features of SSc. PBMC were isolated using density gradient centrifugation on Histopaque and were cultured in FCS supplemented RPMI medium at 37 degrees C under 5% CO2. Production of TWEAK by PBMC was significantly diminished in patients with more severe microvascular damage, as indicated by the presence of "active" capillaroscopic pattern, compared with SSc patients with less pronounced microangiopathy ("slow" pattern), and healthy subjects. Moreover production of TWEAK correlated inversely with duration of Raynaud's phenomenon. PBMC from patients with scleroderma-related interstitial lung disease tended to produce lower amounts of TWEAK compared with SSc patients without lung involvement but the difference was not significant. The results of our study suggest that diminished production of TWEAK might play a role in the pathogenesis of vascular injury in SSc patients. Whether TWEAK may represent a new therapeutic target in SSc requires further studies.
Abstract
Widespread vasculopathy and profound fibrosis are key features of the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc). We hypothesized that the TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK), a recently recognized multifunctional cytokine which regulates angiogenesis and tissue remodeling, may play a role in the development of SSc. The production of TWEAK by the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was investigated, by means of ELISA, in 24 SSc patients and 14 healthy subjects. Moreover, production of TWEAK was correlated with clinical features of SSc. PBMC were isolated using density gradient centrifugation on Histopaque and were cultured in FCS supplemented RPMI medium at 37 degrees C under 5% CO2. Production of TWEAK by PBMC was significantly diminished in patients with more severe microvascular damage, as indicated by the presence of "active" capillaroscopic pattern, compared with SSc patients with less pronounced microangiopathy ("slow" pattern), and healthy subjects. Moreover production of TWEAK correlated inversely with duration of Raynaud's phenomenon. PBMC from patients with scleroderma-related interstitial lung disease tended to produce lower amounts of TWEAK compared with SSc patients without lung involvement but the difference was not significant. The results of our study suggest that diminished production of TWEAK might play a role in the pathogenesis of vascular injury in SSc patients. Whether TWEAK may represent a new therapeutic target in SSc requires further studies.
Title
Diminished production of TWEAK by the peripheral blood mononuclear cells is associated with vascular involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis.
Journal
Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica
Issue
Vol 47, No 3 (2009)
Article type
Original paper
Pages
465-469
Published online
2010-02-19
Page views
2429
Article views/downloads
1500
DOI
10.2478/v10042-009-0103-2
Bibliographic record
Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2009;47(3):465-469.
Authors
Marek Bielecki
Krzysztof Kowal
Anna Lapinska
Justyna Chwiecko
Jan Skowronski
Stanislaw Sierakowski
Lech Chyczewski
Otylia Kowal-Bielecka
About this article