Periostin expression is increased in cardiac tissue from scleroderma patients and circulating periostin levels are correlated with degree of skin fibrosis, disease duration, left ventricular mass and index. The researchers conclude that periostin may be a potential biomarker that may provide more insight into cardiac fibrosis in scleroderma.
Since periostin plays a role in fibrotic processes, this study investigated the role of circulating periostin as a biomarker for organ complications in scleroderma. For this purpose, the periostin level was determined in serum of 106 scleroderma patients and 22 healthy controls; also, the expression of periostin was measured in heart tissue of 4 patients and 4 controls.
Of the participating patients, 83% were female, the mean age was 55.7 years and the mean disease duration was 12.21 ± 2 years. Serum periostin levels were higher in the diffuse cutaneous SSc group (211.9 ± 172.3 ng/ml) compared to both the control group (66.97 ± 61.72 ng/ml; p < 0.0001) and the group with limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc; 130.9 ± 133.7 ng/ml; p = 0.01). The difference between the lcSSc and the control group was also significant (p = 0.0071). In addition, the researchers found a direct correlation between the periostin level and the modified Rodnan skin score, the left ventricular mass and the left ventricular mass index. Immunofluorescence staining in SSc heart tissue showed a 'patchy' periostin expression in all SSc patients, but not in controls. In addition, there was extensive periostin expression even in areas without collagen deposition, while all fibrotic areas showed colocalization of collagen and periostin. No association was observed between periostin levels and interstitial lung disease, pulmonary hypertension, or other vascular complications.
Bron:
El-Adili F, Lui JK, Najem M, et al. Periostin overexpression in scleroderma cardiac tissue and its utility as a marker for disease complications. Arthritis Res Ther. 2022;24:251.