Serum levels of monocyte chemotactic protein-3/CCL7 are raised in patients with systemic sclerosis: association with extent of skin sclerosis and severity of pulmonary fibrosis

Ann Rheum Dis. 2006 Jan;65(1):124-6. doi: 10.1136/ard.2005.040782.

Abstract

Objective: To determine serum levels of monocyte chemotactic protein-3 (MCP-3) and its clinical associations in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods: Serum MCP-3 levels from 69 patients with SSc were examined by ELISA.

Results: Serum MCP-3 levels were raised in patients with SSc (n = 69) compared with healthy controls (n = 28). Patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc (n = 36) had higher levels of serum MCP-3 than those with limited cutaneous SSc (n = 33). Patients with raised MCP-3 levels had pulmonary fibrosis and decreased vital capacity (VC) more often than those with normal MCP-3 levels. MCP-3 levels correlated positively with the extent of skin fibrosis, and inversely with %VC and carbon monoxide transfer factor (Tlco) in patients with SSc.

Conclusion: MCP-3 levels were increased in patients with SSc, and correlated with the extent of skin sclerosis and the severity of pulmonary fibrosis. These results suggest that MCP-3 may have a role in the development of fibrosis in SSc.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Chemokine CCL7
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cytokines / blood*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Monocyte Chemoattractant Proteins / blood*
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / blood*
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / etiology
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / physiopathology
  • Scleroderma, Systemic / blood*
  • Scleroderma, Systemic / complications
  • Scleroderma, Systemic / pathology
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Vital Capacity

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • CCL7 protein, human
  • Chemokine CCL7
  • Cytokines
  • Monocyte Chemoattractant Proteins