Abstract
PurposeThe aim of this study was to investigate the possible link between different types of systemic sclerosis-specific antinuclear antibodies, adipokines and endothelial molecules which were recently found to have a pathogenic significance in systemic sclerosis. Materials/methodsSerum concentration of adiponectin, resistin, leptin, endothelin-1, fractalkine and galectin-3 were determined in the sera of patients with systemic sclerosis (n = 100) and healthy controls (n = 20) using ELISA. ResultsThe following associations between antinuclear antibodies and increased serum concentrations were identified: anticentromere antibodies with endothelin-1 (p < 0.0001; mean level in patients 2.21 vs control group 1.31 pg/ml), anti-topoisomerase I antibodies with fractalkine (p < 0.0001; 3.68 vs 1.68 ng/ml) and galectin-3 (p = 0.0010, 6.39 vs 3.26 ng/ml). Anti-RNA polymerase III antibodies were associated with increased resistin (p < 0.0001; 15.13 vs 8.54 ng/ml) and decreased adiponectin (p < 0.0001; 2894 vs 8847 ng/ml). ConclusionIn systemic sclerosis metabolic and vascular factors may serve as mediators between immunological abnormalities and non-immune driven clinical symptoms.
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