Clinical aspects
Serum CXCL13, BAFF, IL-21 and IL-22 levels are related to disease activity and lymphocyte profile in primary Sjögren’s syndrome
J. Loureiro-Amigo1, C. Franco-Jarava2, J. Perurena-Prieto3, C. Palacio4, F. Martínez-Valle5, R. Soláns-Laqué6
- Autoimmune Systemic Diseases Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, and Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain.
- Immunology Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain.
- Immunology Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain.
- Flow Cytometry Unit, Haematology Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
- Autoimmune Systemic Diseases Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, and Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain.
- Autoimmune Systemic Diseases Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, and Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain. rsolanslaq@gmail.com
CER15206
2021 Vol.39, N°6 ,Suppl.133
PI 0131, PF 0139
Clinical aspects
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PMID: 34919042 [PubMed]
Received: 01/10/2021
Accepted : 23/11/2021
In Press: 15/12/2021
Published: 15/12/2021
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the utility of serum BAFF, IL-17, IL-18, IL-21, IL-22, CXCL13, TNF-R2 and PD-L2 as biomarkers of disease activity in primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS), their relationship with lymphocyte subpopulations and their accuracy to discriminate pSS from Sicca syndrome.
METHODS:
We conducted an observational study on 66 pSS patients and 48 controls (25 with Sicca syndrome and 23 healthy volunteers). Serum levels of BAFF, IL-17 A/F, IL-18, IL-21, IL-22, CXCL13, TNF-R2 and PD-L2 were measured using a multiplex immunoassay. Lymphocyte subpopulations were analysed by flow cytometry. Disease activity of pSS was assessed with ESSDAI at study inclusion.
RESULTS:
Patients with pSS presented higher serum CXCL13 (364.7 vs. 205.2 pg/mL), IL-21 (43.2 vs. 0 pg/mL) and BAFF (1646 vs. 1369 pg/mL), and lower PD-L2 levels (1950.8 vs. 2792.3 pg/mL) than controls. ESSDAI was associated with BAFF, IL-18 and IL-22. Patients with ESSDAI >0 exhibited higher CXCL13, IL-21, IL-22 and TNFR2 concentrations. IL-21 levels correlated with lower memory B-cell and higher naïve B-cell percentages and IL-22 levels correlated with increased circulating activated CD4+ T-cells. The combination of serum CXCL13, BAFF and PDL2 levels using the formula [ln(CXCL13)+ln(BAFF)]/ln(PDL2) exhibit an AUC of 0.854 (95% CI: 0.750-0.919) to discriminate between pSS and Sicca syndrome (sensitivity 77.2% and specificity 86.4% using a cut-off of 1.7).
CONCLUSIONS:
CXCL13, BAFF, IL-21, and IL-22 are potential biomarkers of pSS activity and IL-21 and IL-22 are associated with disturbances of lymphocyte subpopulations in pSS. The combination of serum CXCL13, BAFF, and PD-L2 levels allows discrimination between pSS and Sicca syndrome.
