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. 2024 May 22;24(1):109.
doi: 10.1007/s10238-024-01374-4.

Iloprost infusion reduces serological cytokines and hormones of hypoxia and inflammation in systemic sclerosis patients

Chiara Pellicano  1 , Amalia Colalillo  1 , Oriana De Marco  2 , Valeria Carnazzo  3 , Umberto Basile  3 , Antonietta Gigante  1 , Rosario Cianci #  1 , Edoardo Rosato #  4
Affiliations

Iloprost infusion reduces serological cytokines and hormones of hypoxia and inflammation in systemic sclerosis patients

Chiara Pellicano et al. Clin Exp Med. .

Abstract

Introduction: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by microvascular damage of skin and internal organs with chronic hypoxia and release of cytokines and hormones such as neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) and Klotho. Aim of the study was to evaluate FGF-23, Klotho and NGAL serum levels in SSc patients and healthy controls (HC) and to evaluate serum levels changes of FGF-23, Klotho and NGAL after Iloprost.

Methods: Twenty-one SSc patients and 20 HC were enrolled. In SSc patients, peripheral venous blood samples were collected at the first day before the autumn Iloprost infusion (t0), 60 min (t1) and 14 days after Iloprost infusion (t2).

Results: SSc patients had higher serum level of FGF-23 [18.7 ± 6.4 pg/ml versus 3.6 ± 2.2 pg/ml, p < 0.001], Klotho [5.1 ± 0.8 pg/ml versus 2.3 ± 0.6 pg/ml, p < 0.001] and NGAL [20.9 ± 2.6 pg/ml versus 14.5 ± 1.7 pg/ml, p < 0.001] than HC. Iloprost infusion reduces serum level of FGF-23 (18.7 ± 6.4 pg/ml versus 10.4 ± 5.5 pg/ml, p < 0.001), Klotho (5.1 ± 0.8 pg/ml versus 2.5 ± 0.6 pg/ml, p < 0.001) and NGAL (20.9 ± 2.6 pg/ml versus 15.1 ± 2.3 pg/ml, p < 0.001) between t0 and t1. The Iloprost infusion reduces serum level of FGF-23 (18.7 ± 6.4 pg/ml versus 6.6 ± 5.1 pg/ml), Klotho (5.1 ± 0.8 pg/ml versus 2.3 ± 0.4 pg/ml) and NGAL (20.9 ± 2.6 pg/ml versus 15.5 ± 1.9 pg/ml) between t0 and t2.

Conclusions: SSc patients had higher FGF-23, Klotho and NGAL than HC. Iloprost reduces serum levels of FGF-23, Klotho and NGAL.

Keywords: FGF-23; Hypoxia; Klotho; NGAL; Systemic sclerosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Comparative analysis at t0 between systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients and healthy controls (HC). A: Box plots show fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) serum levels; B: Box plots show Klotho serum levels; C: Box plots show neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) serum levels. Circles are outliers. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Changes at three different time points (t0, t1, t2) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients. A: Comparative analysis of fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) serum levels at each time point between SSc patients with or without digital ulcers (DUs); B: Comparative analysis of Klotho serum levels at each time point between SSc patients with or without DUs; C: Comparative analysis of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) serum levels at each time point between SSc patients with or without DUs; D: Comparative analysis of FGF-23 serum levels at each time point between SSc patients with normal or increased renal resistive index (RRI); E: Comparative analysis of Klotho serum levels at each time point between SSc patients with normal or increased RRI; F: Comparative analysis of NGAL serum levels at each time point between SSc patients with normal or increased RRI
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Repeated measures at three different time points (t0, t1, t2) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients. A: Box plots show fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) serum levels; B: Box plots show Klotho serum levels; C: Box plots show neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) serum levels. Circles are outliers. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001
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