Characterization of autoantibodies and cytokines related to cutaneous lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the profiles of anti-RPLP0, anti-galectin3 antibodies, interferon-α (IFN-α), interferon-λ1(IFN-λ1) and interleukin-17A/F(IL-17A/F) in the subtypes of cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) including acute CLE (ACLE), subacute CLE (SCLE) and discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE). METHODS: Serum levels of autoantibodies and cytokines were determined by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). Lupus lesions were evaluated by cutaneous lupus erythematosus disease area and severity index (CLASI). RESULTS: Serum anti-RPLP0, anti-galectin3 antibodies and IFN-λ1 were higher in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with skin lesions than those without skin lesions, compared to healthy controls. IFN-α, IL-17A and IL-17F was elevated in all patients regardless of skin lesions. The two antibodies, IFN-α and IL-17A were positively correlated with the CLASI score in all patients with CLE. In addition, serum IL-17A was positively correlated to the CLASI score of ACLE, SCLE and DLE, while anti-RPLP0 and anti-galectin3 antibodies were only correlated to the score of SCLE and IL-17F to DLE. CONCLUSION: Serum anti-RPLP0, anti-galectin3 antibodies, IFN-α, IFN-λ1 and IL-17A/F are associated with the occurrence of lupus skin lesions regardless of the systemic complications, whereas the profiles of these inflammatory mediators vary with the subtypes of lupus skin lesions.

Artesunate alleviates imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis in BALB/c mice.

Artesunate (ART), a derivative of artemisinin, is a medication to treat malaria. Beyond that, the anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory activities of ART have been identified in autoimmune diseases. However, whether ART functions in psoriasis-like dermatitis induced by imiquimod (IMQ, a TLR7/8 agonist) is currently unkown. There, we found that the cumulative score, epidermal thickening and expression of Ki-67 of ART-treated BALB/c mice were significantly lower than those in the IMQ psoriatic model group. In addition, ART treatment ameliorated mice from systemic inflammation. Mechanistically, ART reduced γδ T cells in draining lymph nodes, which might be benefit the improvement of dermatitis. These findings suggested that ART could be a promising drug of psoriasis in clinic.

Predictive factors and unfavourable prognostic factors of interstitial lung disease in patients with polymyositis or dermatomyositis: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a serious lung complication in polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM) which affects prognosis and requires a more aggressive approach in therapy. This study investigated the prevalence, characteristics, predictive factors and unfavourable prognostic factors of ILD in newly diagnosed PM, DM and amyopathic DM (ADM). METHODS: From January 2000 to December 2008, the medical records of 197 consecutive PM and DM patients at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University were reviewed excluding overlapping, juvenile, and malignancy-associated cases. The patients were assigned to an ILD (69 patients) and a non-ILD group (128 patients). The clinical features, laboratory findings, and prognosis were compared. RESULTS: The multivariate analysis indicated that older age at onset (OR 1.033, 95%CI 1.009 - 1.058, P = 0.007), fever (OR 4.109, 95%CI 1.926 - 8.767, P < 0.001) and arthritis/arthralgia (OR 2.274, 95%CI 1.101 - 4.695, P = 0.026) were the independent predictive factors for developing ILD in PM/DM after excluding anti-Jo-1. Regarding anti-Jo-1, fever (OR 4.912, 95%CI 2.121 - 11.376, P < 0.001) was associated with ILD. Poor survival in ILD patients was associated with ILD clinical subset (RR 0.122, 95%CI 0.049 - 0.399, P < 0.001), ADM/DM/PM-ILD (RR 0.140, 95%CI 0.031 - 0.476, P = 0.002), cardiac involvement (RR 4.654, 95%CI 1.391 - 15.577, P = 0.013) and serum albumin level (RR 0.910, 95%CI 0.831 - 0.997, P = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS: Patients who presented with fever tended to have a higher frequency of PM/DM-associated ILD. A Hamman-Rich-like presentation, ADM-ILD, cardiac involvement and hypoalbuminemia were poor prognostic factors in ILD-PM/DM.