Increase of CXCL10 serum level in systemic sclerosis interstitial pneumonia

Introduction. - CXCL 10, gamma-interferon-induced chemokine seems to play a relevant role in lung involvement that occurs in systemic sclerosis (SSc). The objective of this study was to assess the serum level of CXCL 10 in interstitial lung disease (ILD) associated with SSc. Methods. - Serum level of CXCL 10 was assayed in 23 healthy volunteers (60.0 years; 58.0-67.3) and 29 SSc patients (63.1 years; 60.1-69.4) by ELISA method. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs), lung CT-scan and echocardiogram were also performed in the patients. Serum levels from patients and healthy controls were compared and a comparison among SSc patients between those with and without ILD, as documented by lung CT-scan, was also performed. Results. - Median CXCL 10 level from patients with SSc was significantly higher than that from healthy volunteers (110.0 pg/ml; 60.8-223.8 versus 52.0; 41.3-65.8; p < 0.001). Fifteen out of the 29 patients had ILD on lung CT-scan; the median CXCL 10 level from SSc patients with ILD was significantly higher than that from SSc patients without ILD (210.0 pg/ml; 115.0-307.5 versus 76.0; 55.0-110.0; p = 0.02). Conclusion. - Our findings suggest that CXCL 10 is specifically increased in the lung involvement of SSc and plays a role in scleroderma lung disease. (C) 2009 Societe nationale francaise de medecine interne (SNFMI). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.