The Regulatory Networks of IL-38 and IL-17/IL-23R Axis in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Aim: To investigate the cytokine network disorders and the regulatory networks of IL-38 and IL-17/IL-23R in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods and results: The expressions of cytokines and their soluble receptors in serum were detected by ELISA. Compared with the healthy controls, the levels of IL-38, IL-17 and IL-23R were up-regulated or down-regulated in SLE patients with kidney damage, but there was no significant correlation between IL-38 and IL-17 or IL-23R. The enrichment analysis of differentially expressed cytokines in SLE mainly elucidated inflammatory and pro-fibrotic mediators, JAK-STAT and MAPK signaling pathways. Conclusions: Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction is one of the main pathological features of SLE. The low expression of IL-38 and the overexpression of IL-17 and IL-23R may promote the disorder of inflammatory cytokine network in SLE.