Clinical trials and experimental
Serological values of il-17 in patients with systemic sclerosis and morphea

Scleroderma pathogenesis involves vascular abnormalities, sclerotic alteration of skin and autoimmune changes.
IL-17 is a cytokine produced by lymphocytes Th 17 with strong pro inflammatory role but also with action on fibroblasts.
In our study we investigated, by enzyme immunoassay, serum levels of IL-17 in a batch of 24 patients, 6 patients with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis (LCSS) and 18 patients with morphea. Also investigated were the values of serum cytokines IL-2, TNF, IL-4, IL-10, the anti centromer antibodies and antitopoizomerase antibodies.

The results showed elevated IL-17 levels in all cases of limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis, and in 9 cases of morphea.
Increased serum values of IL-17 were obtained in the context of other investigated cytokines growth.