TY - JOUR
T1 - Upregulated expression of STAT3/IL-17 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
AU - Chen, Shih Yao
AU - Liu, Ming Fei
AU - Kuo, Pin Yu
AU - Wang, Chrong Reen
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors are indebted to the doctors and nurses involved in the diagnosis and management of reported patients at the National Cheng Kung University Hospital.
Funding Information:
Funding sources This work was supported by grants MOST 106-2314-B-006-073-MY3 and 106-2320-B-006-074 from the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019, International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR).
PY - 2019/5/1
Y1 - 2019/5/1
N2 - Elevated IL-17 levels with higher Th17 numbers are identified in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). STAT3 signaling plays a crucial role in the Th17 generation, and SOCS3 negatively regulates their formation. We investigated IL-17, STAT3, and SOCS3 expression, and analyzed their correlations to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of IL-17 production in SLE. This study enrolled 32 patients, and venous mononuclear cells (MNCs) were isolated with further purification of CD4-positive T cells. IL-17 and SOCS3 levels were measured by real-time quantitative PCR, and pSTAT3/STAT3 expression was analyzed by immunoblot. Elevated IL-17 and SOCS3 levels were identified in lupus patients. There were higher IL-17 levels in lupus nephritis (class IV) than in SLE without renal involvement. Positive correlations were found between IL-17 levels and SOCS3 expression, lupus activity (SLEDAI-2K), or daily proteinuria. There were higher intensities of pSTAT3/β-actin and STAT3/β-actin in SLE, and a positive correlation between IL-17 expression and pSTAT3/β-actin or STAT3/β-actin intensity. Lupus nephritis (class IV) had higher STAT3/β-actin intensity than SLE without renal involvement. These results suggest upregulated STAT3/IL-17 expression in lupus patients. Such findings might facilitate the development of novel compounds and the application of existing therapeutics targeting the STAT3/IL-17 signal in SLE.
AB - Elevated IL-17 levels with higher Th17 numbers are identified in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). STAT3 signaling plays a crucial role in the Th17 generation, and SOCS3 negatively regulates their formation. We investigated IL-17, STAT3, and SOCS3 expression, and analyzed their correlations to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of IL-17 production in SLE. This study enrolled 32 patients, and venous mononuclear cells (MNCs) were isolated with further purification of CD4-positive T cells. IL-17 and SOCS3 levels were measured by real-time quantitative PCR, and pSTAT3/STAT3 expression was analyzed by immunoblot. Elevated IL-17 and SOCS3 levels were identified in lupus patients. There were higher IL-17 levels in lupus nephritis (class IV) than in SLE without renal involvement. Positive correlations were found between IL-17 levels and SOCS3 expression, lupus activity (SLEDAI-2K), or daily proteinuria. There were higher intensities of pSTAT3/β-actin and STAT3/β-actin in SLE, and a positive correlation between IL-17 expression and pSTAT3/β-actin or STAT3/β-actin intensity. Lupus nephritis (class IV) had higher STAT3/β-actin intensity than SLE without renal involvement. These results suggest upregulated STAT3/IL-17 expression in lupus patients. Such findings might facilitate the development of novel compounds and the application of existing therapeutics targeting the STAT3/IL-17 signal in SLE.
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U2 - 10.1007/s10067-019-04467-8
DO - 10.1007/s10067-019-04467-8
M3 - Article
C2 - 30767092
AN - SCOPUS:85061608402
SN - 0770-3198
VL - 38
SP - 1361
EP - 1366
JO - Clinical Rheumatology
JF - Clinical Rheumatology
IS - 5
ER -