Decreased production of interleukin-12 and interferon-γ is associated with renal involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of rheumatology 2001, Vol.30 (3), p.159-163
• Main Authors: MIN, Do-June, CHO, Mi-La, KIM, Ho-Youn, CHO, Chul-Soo, MIN, So-Youn, KIM, Wan-Uk, YANG, Si-Young, MIN, Jun-Ki, HONG, Yeon-Sik, LEE, Sang-Heon, PARK, Sung-Hwan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Disease Progression; Female; Humans; Interferon-gamma - blood; Interleukin-10 - blood; Interleukin-12 - blood; Interleukin-4 - blood; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - drug effects; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - metabolism; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - blood; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - complications; Lupus Nephritis - blood; Lupus Nephritis - etiology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mitogens - pharmacology; Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis
• ISSN: 0300-9742; 1502-7732
• DOI: 10.1080/030097401300162932

To analyze the type 1/type 2 cytokine balance in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) according to the presence of renal disorder and activity status. We measured the serum levels of type 1 (IFN-gamma, IL-12) and type 2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-10) as well as spontaneous and stimulated cytokine production from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in 40 patients with SLE. Patients with lupus nephritis (LN) showed significantly lower levels of serum IL-12 and IFN-gamma than those without LN. Production of IL-12 and IFN-gamma by stimulated PBMC were also decreased in patients with LN. The circulating IL-12 correlated positively with IFN-gamma, but inversely with IL-10. The SLEDAI scores correlated well with the ratio of IL-4/IFN-gamma levels. The reduced production of IL-12 and IFN-gamma and the resultant shift towards the type 2 cytokine phenotype may be associated with LN.