TY - JOUR JO - Advances in Dermatology and Allergology/Postępy Dermatologii i Alergologii SN - 1642-395X VL - 22 IS - 4 PY - 2005 ID - Dziankowska-Bartkowiak2005 TI - Caspase-1 – a role in an evolution of systemic sclerosis AB - Disturbances in the process of apoptosis are implicated among many mechanisms that may influence the development of connective tissue changes in the course of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Cysteine-aspartic acid specific proteases – caspases – are necessary for the proper course of apoptosis. One of them is caspase-1, witch plays an important role in cytokine release and development of inflammation. The aim of the study was estimation of caspase-1 serum levels in the group of 17 patients with SSc (9 with limited SSc – lSSc and 8 with diffuse SSc – dSSc) twice during one year observation and in the group of 10 healthy persons as well as evaluation of their correlation with disease activity. The patients underwent clinical examination and routine laboratory tests. Involvement of internal organs by systemic sclerosis was evaluated by relevant specialists. Antinuclear antibodies were determined by indirect immunofluorescent tests on HEp-2 cells and immunodiffusion in agarose gel. Serum levels of caspase-1 was evaluated by ELISA method with commercially available kit. The obtained results were statistically analysed. In the examined group of patients with lSSc the duration of Raynaud’s phenomenon, as well as skin sclerosis, was significantly longer in comparison to patients with dSSc (p<0.05). The degree of skin sclerosis was significantly more intensive in dSSc group than in lSSc (p<0,05). It was demonstrated that serum levels of caspase-1 were significantly lower in patients with SSc than in the control group (61.6±76,4 vs 212.4±246,2 pg/ml; p<0.05). Lower levels of the examined caspase were also observed in the patients with lSSc than in dSSc (36,5±59,4 vs 89,7±87,1 pg/ml; p<0.05). Concentration of this caspase was increased after one year observation (SSc – 125,5±103,5 pg/ml; lSSc – 91,5±75,1 pg/ml; dSSc – 163,8±122,0 pg/ml). Statistical analysis of the obtained results revealed significant correlations (p<0.05) of lower serum levels of caspase-1 with increased skin sclerosis (Total Skin Score – TSS) in the dSSc subgroup (r=-0,711) and with the number of internal organs involved by the disease in lSSc (r=-0,709). Serum levels of caspase-1 did not correlate with duration of Raynaud’s phenomenon and duration of skin sclerosis. On the base of obtained results it was suggested that disturbances in serum levels of caspase-1, one of the enzymes initiating the process of apoptosis, may confirm its role in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis. AU - Dziankowska-Bartkowiak, Bożena AU - Żebrowska, Agnieszka AU - Dziankowska-Zaborszczyk, Elżbieta AU - Waszczykowska, Elżbieta SP - 167 EP - 173 DA - 2005 UR - https://www.termedia.pl/Caspase-1-8211-a-role-in-an-evolution-of-systemic-sclerosis,7,3702,1,1.html ER -