Interleukin-40 in Systemic Sclerosis: A Treatment-Sensitive Marker of Immune Modulation Rather Than Disease Activity
CTS-CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE, cilt.19, sa.8, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 19 Sayı: 8
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1111/cts.70678
- Dergi Adı: CTS-CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Directory of Open Access Journals, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Natural Science Collection (ProQuest), Biological Science Database (ProQuest), Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate Edition (EBSCO), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest)
- Gazi Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Interleukin-40 (IL-40) is a recently identified cytokine primarily produced by activated B cells and implicated in immune regulation across several autoimmune diseases. Although B cell-driven immune dysregulation plays a central role in systemic sclerosis (SSc), the circulating behavior and clinical relevance of IL-40 in this disease remain poorly defined. To characterize serum IL-40 levels in patients with SSc and to explore their associations with immunosuppressive treatment exposure, disease subsets, clinical manifestations, and disease activity. Serum IL-40 levels were measured by ELISA in 41 patients with SSc and 29 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Patients were stratified according to immunosuppressive treatment status at the time of serum sampling. Clinical features, organ involvement, and disease activity were recorded. Serum IL-40 levels differed significantly among immunosuppressed SSc patients, untreated SSc patients, and healthy controls (p < 0.001). Patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy exhibited markedly lower IL-40 concentrations compared with both untreated SSc patients and healthy controls. In contrast, untreated SSc patients showed IL-40 levels comparable to controls. Serum IL-40 levels were not significantly associated with cutaneous disease subtype, interstitial lung disease, dysphagia, or disease activity status. Stratified analyses demonstrated that lower IL-40 levels in treated patients were observed irrespective of disease activity. Lower circulating IL-40 levels were observed in immunosuppressed patients irrespective of disease phenotype, organ involvement, or disease activity. These findings support an association between treatment exposure and circulating IL-40 levels, although longitudinal studies are needed to clarify causality.