{
  "abstract": "Introduction Interleukin (IL)-20 subfamily of cytokines, including IL-19, IL-20, IL-22, and IL-24, was reported to related to inflammatory responses and proceeding fibrosis which contribute to tissue damage in several diseases. Though the pro-fibrotic effect on some of IL-20 subfamily, that is, the cytokines directly effect fibroblast to produce collagens, was reported in bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis model and in vitro experiments using fibroblast, there were scarce reports about the relationship between IL-20 subfamily and systemic sclerosis (SSc). Here, we evaluated the serum level of IL-20 subfamily cytokines in SSc patients.Material and Methods IL-19, 20, 22, 24 were measured by multiplex assay from the sera from 72 patients with SSc and those of 18 healthy volunteers (HC). The cytokines which showed statistically significant (P < 0.05) differences between SSc and HC were also validated by ELISA. Clinical data, including the result of chest CT scan and pulmonary function test, were collected from medical chart.Results Among these cytokines, only IL-19 showed a significant difference in the multiplex assay. In the analysis using ELISA, IL-19 was significantly higher in the sera from SSc patients than those from HC (median value [interquartile range], SSc 25.5 pg/mL [ 10.9-139.9 pg/mL]; HC 8 pg/mL [8-12 pg/mL]; P < 0.05). IL-19 level were also significant higher in the patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) among SSc patients than that without ILD. Serum IL-19 levels showed correlation with serum KL-6 levels, extent of fibrotic area detected by CT scan, and %DLco’ in SSc-ILD patients.Conclusions Serum IL-19 level was high in SSc patients, especially in SSc-ILD patients. Further basic study is needed to elucidate the role of IL-19 in SSc patients.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Tokyo, Japan"
      ],
      "name": "Yuki Ichimura"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Tokyo, Japan"
      ],
      "name": "Hikaru Hirose"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Tokyo, Japan"
      ],
      "name": "Tomoaki Higuchi"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Tokyo, Japan"
      ],
      "name": "Akiko Tochimoto"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Tokyo, Japan"
      ],
      "name": "Yasushi Kawaguchi"
    }
  ],
  "title": "P.028 Interleukin-19 is related to systemic sclerosis, especially interstitial lung disease",
  "uid": "45cb81ff-3da5-5132-8cd2-a63c6a276e16"
}