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Body mass index and adipokines/cytokines dysregulation in Systemic Sclerosis
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  • F Iannone,
  • Emanuela Praino,
  • Cinzia Rotondo,
  • Dorotea Natuzzi,
  • Rita Bizzoca,
  • Nunzia Lacarpia,
  • Marco Fornaro,
  • Fabio Cacciapaglia
F Iannone
Rheumatology Unit

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Emanuela Praino
Rheumatology Unit
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Cinzia Rotondo
Rheumatology Unit
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Dorotea Natuzzi
Rheumatolgy Unit
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Rita Bizzoca
Rheumatolgy Unit
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Nunzia Lacarpia
Rheumatolgy Unit
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Marco Fornaro
Rheumatology Unit
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Fabio Cacciapaglia
Rheumatolgy Unit
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Abstract

Body fat has regulatory functions through producing cytokines and adipokines whose role in the pathogenesis of Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is currently emerging. Changes in body mass, either overweight or underweight status, entail a dysregulation of the cytokines/adipokines network that may impact on SSc disease activity. We evaluated serum levels of adipokines and cytokines in SSc patients and correlated them to clinical features and body mass index (BMI) categories. The study included 89 SSc patients and 26 healthy donors (HD). Serum levels of adiponectin, leptin, resistin, visfatin, TNFα, IFNγ, IL-2, IL-10, and IL-17A were measured by Multiplex Immunoassay, and correlated to BMI, waist to hip ratio, and disease specific features. Mann-Whitney U-test or t-Student for unpaired data, Kruskal-Wallis test or ANOVA, were used for comparisons between groups. Spearman’s or Pearson’s test were used for correlation analysis. Serum levels of TNFα, IL-2, leptin, and resistin, were significantly higher in SSc than in HD. The highest levels of IL-17A, IL-2, IL-10, leptin and visfatin were detected in obese SSc patients (p <0.01). Conversely, underweight SSc patients showed the highest TNFα levels (p<0.05), which were negatively correlated with BMI (p=0.05). No correlation between adipokines/cytokines and clinical characteristics was found. Adipokines, IL-2, IL-10 and IL-17A were found to be increased in obese SSc patients, but whether they play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease remains to be investigated. Intriguingly, underweight patients had higher TNFα levels, suggesting a potential role of TNFα in inducing the cachexia observed in long-lasting disease.
04 Apr 2021Submitted to Clinical & Experimental Immunology
06 Apr 2021Submission Checks Completed
06 Apr 2021Assigned to Editor
07 Apr 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
21 Apr 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
21 Apr 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Major
15 Jun 20211st Revision Received
15 Jun 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
05 Jul 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
06 Jul 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
24 Jul 20212nd Revision Received
26 Jul 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
26 Jul 2021Editorial Decision: Accept
Nov 2021Published in Clinical & Experimental Immunology volume 206 issue 2 on pages 153-160. 10.1111/cei.13651