Serum interleukin 27: a possible biomarker of pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease; different cytokines play a role in the immunopathogenesis of SLE. IL-27 has both immunosuppressive and pro-inflammatory roles and its role is unclear in SLE. Objectives: To measure serum interleukin (IL)-27 among a group of patients with pediatric SLE (pSLE) and whether it varies with SLE clinical and laboratory features or with therapy. Methods: Fifty patients with pSLE and 25 healthy subjects were included. Routine laboratory and immunological markers of SLE were done. Serum IL-27 was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for both patients and healthy subjects. Results: Serum IL-27 was significantly lower in patients when compared to healthy subjects (p< 0.001); 17 patients (34%) had low serum IL-27 (serum IL-27 < 160 pg/ml). Patients in lupus flare and those in remission had comparable levels (p> 0.05). Serum IL-27 did not vary significantly between patients with lupus nephritis (LN) and those without evident LN, moreover, it was comparable among different histological classes of LN (p> 0.05). The disease status in terms of SLE disease activity index was comparable among lupus patients with normal serum IL-27 and those with decreased serum IL-27 (p> 0.05). Serum IL-27 was not affected significantly with the cumulative doses and the types of the immunosuppressive drugs used (p> 0.05). Conclusion: Decreased serum IL-27 in SLE might support its involvement in the immune alteration underlying SLE but its exact role remains unclear.