Interleukin-35 in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Cytokine Biology
• Rheumatology

Background:

• Interleukin-35 (IL-35) is a cytokine linked to autoimmune diseases.
• Its expression is inducible and associated with inflammatory conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of IL-35 in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM).
• To examine IL-35 subunit expression in muscle biopsies and serum IL-35 levels in IIM patients.

Main Methods:

• Muscle biopsy analysis for IL-35 subunit expression in IIM patients and controls.
• Serum IL-35 level measurement in IIM patients (PM, DM, CAM) and healthy controls.
• Correlation analysis of serum IL-35 with disease activity markers (MDAAT, muscle enzymes, lung activity) and treatment duration.

Main Results:

• IL-35 subunits were expressed in inflammatory infiltrates of IIM muscle biopsies, but not in controls.
• Serum IL-35 levels were significantly higher in all IIM patients compared to healthy controls.
• Serum IL-35 levels correlated positively with disease activity and negatively with treatment duration.

Conclusions:

• IL-35 is overexpressed in muscle tissue and serum of IIM patients.
• Elevated IL-35 suggests a potential role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory myopathies.