Folia Biologica
Journal of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Charles University 

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Fol. Biol. 2007, 53, 66-68

https://doi.org/10.14712/fb2007053020066

Collagen Degradation Products and Proinfiammatory Cytokines in Systemic and Localized Scleroderma

Radim Bečvář1, H. Hulejová1, M. Braun1, J. Štork2

1Institute of Rheumatology, Prague, Czech Republic
2Department of Dermatology, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, and General Teaching Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic

Received December 2006
Accepted February 2007

The aim of this study was to assess the degradation of collagen type I and proinflammatory cytokines in systemic and localized scleroderma compared with psoriasis and healthy controls. Total 99 individuals were examined -24 with SSc, 22 with LSc, 39 patients with PsV and 14 healthy controls. U-PD and U-DPD were measured using a sensitive isocratic HPLC method. Serum levels of IL-6 and soluble IL-2R were assayed using commercial ELISA kits. In the SSc group U-PD and U-DPD levels (nmol/mmol creatinine) were increased compared with controls (P = 0.001) and with PsV (P = 0.006). IL-6 levels were increased compared with controls (P = 0.004) and with PsV (P = 0.002). IL-2R concentrations were insignificantly increased in comparison with controls and were lower than in PsV, but the difference was not significant. In the LSc group excretion of U-PD and U-DPD did not differ from controls, but was insignificantly decreased compared with PsV. IL-6 levels were increased compared with controls (P = 0.001) and also with PsV (p = 0.03). IL-2R concentrations were significantly increased in comparison with controls only (P = 0.03). In patients with SSc our data have shown the most intensive collagen degradation and simultaneously an active inflammation, as documented by IL-6, which reflects the pathological processes in the skin and visceral organs compared with PsV patients and healthy individuals. In the LSc group collagen degradation was similar to that in control groups, but a certain inflammatory activity was observed.

Funding

This work was supported by the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic, research grant No. NR/7886-3.

References

13 live references