Abstract
Abstract Follistatin-like protein-1 (FSTL-1) is a poorly characterized gene which we have recently shown to be a novel proinflammatory molecule. FSTL-1 is overexpressed in mouse paws during early arthritis, especially at the interface of synovial pannus and eroding bone. In this study we evaluated FSTL-1 expression following inflammation in both mice and humans in order to characterize the role of FSTL-1 in inflammation. Mice inoculated with complete Freunds’ adjuvant in paws, LPS in the peritoneal cavity, or pseudomonas aeruginosa in the lungs displayed an elevation of FSTL-1 protein, similar to that found in arthritic mice. In addition, utilizing quantitative PCR and ELISA specific for FSTL-1, we demonstrated increased FSTL-1 expression in the heart and brain following LPS peritoneal injection. Finally, FSTL-1 is increased in sera of patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and Kawasaki Disease, compared to normal aged-matched control patients. These observations suggest that FSTL-1 is a potential biomarker of inflammation and may be a novel target for therapy. This work was supported in part by National Institutes of Health grants AI44566 and T32AR052282.
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