Interferon-γ-inducible chemokines in systemic lupus erythematosus

Some studies reported that chemokine interferon-γ-inducible protein 10 (IP-10) and its receptor chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor (CXCR) 3, which is exhibited by T cells, are expressed in several types of cutaneous damages associated with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), and that the CXCR3-activating chemokines are produced locally, suggesting their significant role in the recruitment of T cells in these inflammatory lesions. The involvement of IP-10 and CXCR3 has been shown also in several other types of tissue damages associated with SLE, such as glomerulonephritis or central nervous system lupus. Urinary IP-10 is a sensitive and non-invasive diagnostic tool for monitoring lupus nephritis patients, and the response to treatments. Serum levels of IP-10 are increased in SLE patients, showing a strong correlation with disease activity. Levels of IP-10 are also increased in the cerebrospinal fluid samples from neuropsychiatric SLE patients. These data provide increasing evidence that IP-10 may participate in the pathogenesis of a variety of the manifestations of SLE, even if the exact role of IP-10 in the pathogenesis of SLE remains to be clarified.