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PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
2011-4-18
pubmed:abstractText
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease characterized by vascular and fibrotic changes in the skin and in internal organs. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a peptide that has a role in promoting both vascular injury and the fibrotic process in SSc; indeed, patients with systemic sclerosis have higher levels of ET-1 compared with healthy subjects. Moreover, ET-1 enhances expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in animal model. Bosentan is a dual endothelin receptor antagonist approved for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension and digital ulcers in scleroderma patients. In animal models and in vitro models, after treatment with Bosentan, a significant reduction of cytokine (TNF ?, IFN ?,IL-8, IL-4) levels was observed. The aim of the study is to verify whether Bosentan treatment in SSc patients can reduce circulating cytokines levels. We enrolled 10 patients affected by SSc with digital ulcers and/or pulmonary hypertension, treated with Bosentan 125 mg twice daily. Patients were tested for cytokines and ET-1 level before treatment and after 12 months. The cytokines tested were IL-10, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, GM-CSF, IFN-? and TNF. Levels of ET-1, IL-10, IL-4, IL-5, GM-CSF and TNFalpha did not show consistent modification during treatment with Bosentan in respect to baseline, while IL-2, IL-6, IL-8 and IFN-? were significantly decreased. Bosentan significantly reduced IL-2, IL-6, IL-8 and IFN- ? levels in SSc patients, probably slowing progression to fibrosis and vascular damage. This is the first report showing a decrease of profibrotic and proinflammatory cytokines levels in humans during treatment with Bosentan.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:issn
0394-6320
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
24
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
261-4
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:articleTitle
Evaluation of the effect of Bosentan treatment on proinflammatory cytokine serum levels in patients affected by Systemic Sclerosis.
pubmed:publicationType
Letter