Circulating Gremlin-1 is elevated in systemic sclerosis patients

O’Reilly, Steven

Abstract

Introduction: Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune connective tissue disease in which there is activation of the immune system, vascular disease and fibrosis. Activation of quiescent fibroblasts to myofibroblasts is key to disease pathogenesis. Gremlin-1 is a bone morphogenetic protein antagonist which is important in development and we recently reported in skin fibrosis. The aim of this study was to determine the serum circulating levels of Gremlin-1 in early diffuse systemic sclerosis. Methods: Twenty-one early diffuse systemic sclerosis patients (less than 2 years from first non-Raynaud’s symptom) were included and age and sex-matched healthy controls. Serum was isolated from blood and measured with a specific enzyme-linked immunoassay for Gremlin-1. Clinical variables were also measured. Results: Significantly elevated Gremlin-1 was found in sera of early diffuse systemic sclerosis patients (p < 0.001). In patients with interstitial lung disease, this compared to systemic sclerosis without evidence of interstitial lung disease, Gremlin-1 was significantly elevated (p < 0.0007). A correlation was found between circulating Gremlin-1 and modified Rodnan Skin Score, albeit weak. Discussion: In early diffuse systemic sclerosis patients, elevated Gremlin-1 is found in serum. This is particularly prominent in systemic sclerosis–associated interstitial lung disease. This suggests that Gremlin-1 may be a biomarker for systemic sclerosis interstitial lung disease.

Citation

O’Reilly, S. (2021). Circulating Gremlin-1 is elevated in systemic sclerosis patients. Journal of Scleroderma and Related Disorders, 6(3), 286-289. https://doi.org/10.1177/23971983211036571

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 12, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Aug 2, 2021
• Publication Date: Oct 1, 2021
• Deposit Date: Nov 25, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 25, 2021
• Journal: Journal of Scleroderma and Related Disorders
• Print ISSN: 2397-1983
• Electronic ISSN: 2397-1991
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 6
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 286-289
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/23971983211036571
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1220928