The local complement activation on vascular bed of patients with systemic sclerosis: a hypothesis-generating study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

The role of complement system in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc) has been debated during the last decade but an evident implication in this disease has never been found. We carried out an explorative study on SSc patients to evaluate the expression of soluble and local C5b-9 complement complex and its relation with a complement regulator, the Membrane Cofactor Protein (MCP, CD46) on skin vascular bed as target distinctive of SSc disease. We also analyzed two polymorphic variants in the complement activation gene cluster involving the MCP region.

Methods

C5b-9 plasma levels of SSc patients and healthy subjects were analyzed by ELISA assay. Archival skin biopsies of SSc patients and controls were subjected to immunofluorescence analysis to detect C5b-9 a

SUBMITTER: Scambi C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4319765 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature