Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
3
pubmed:dateCreated
2002-5-9
pubmed:abstractText
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by several immunological abnormalities. The pathogenic importance of T cells in this disease is well established. Interleukin-16 (IL-16) is a cytokine which is mainly produced by CD8+ T cells and induces chemotaxis of CD4+ T cells and monocytes. IL-16 levels have been shown to be elevated in SLE patients in a cross-sectional study, but the mechanism is unknown. To explore whether the increased IL-16 levels are associated with genetic background or the disease itself, we investigated the IL-16 level in healthy first-degree family members of SLE patients and SLE patients who were followed over time with regard to disease activity. We observed high IL-16 levels in SLE patients with severe disease compared to SLE patients with non-severe disease and healthy controls. Furthermore, IL-16 levels in first-degree relatives were not different from those in healthy controls. These results suggest that high IL-16 levels are associated with severity of SLE, but not with genetic susceptibility to SLE. Finally, we followed the disease activity of SLE patients over time, which showed significant correlation between the SLE disease activity index and IL-16, ESR and the complement components C3, C4 and CH50. In conclusion, these results implicate an association of IL-16 with SLE.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:issn
0961-2033
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
11
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
181-5
pubmed:dateRevised
2004-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2002
pubmed:articleTitle
Elevated IL-16 levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus are associated with disease severity but not with genetic susceptibility to lupus.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Centre, The Netherlands. l.r.lard@lumc.nl
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article