Objective To measure the level of interleukin (IL)-27 in sera of patients with Sj(o)gren's syndrome (SS) and investigate its role in IL-10 in CD3+CD8-T cells.Methods Serum levels of 1L-27 and IL-10 from 34 SS patients and 33 healthy controls were tested by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Peripheral blood monocytes (PBMCs) from SS patients were collected and cultured in different conditions (one with PHA,the other with PHA and IL-27).Seventy-two hours later,cells were harvested and the percentages of CD3 +CD8-IL-10+ cells were measured by flow cytometry.Expressions of c-Maf,IL-10 transcription factor,were examined using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).The data were analyzed by t test,Pearson's correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis.Results Serum level of IL-27 in patients with SS [(158±34) pg/ml] was significantly higher than that in healthy controls [(139±18) pg/ml,t=2.823,P＜0.01].IL-27 level was positively correlated with IL-10 and IgG levels (r=0.384,P＜0.05; r=0.354,P＜0.05),but negatively correlated with SSDAI (r=0.503,P＜0.01).Multiple regression analysis showed independent correlation of IL-27 with IL-10 and SSDAI in SS patients (β=0.412,P＜0.01; β=-0.525,P＜0.01),but not IgG.CD3+CD8-IL-10+ cells was upregulated by IL-27 in vitro (P＜0.01,n=14),so was c-Maf (P＜0.01,n=22).Conclusion IL-27 could ameliorate disease activity of Sjogren's syndrome.

Objective To explore the effects of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs) on fibroblast-like synoviocytes(FLSs) from patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA). Methods collagen-induced arthritis(CIA) models were developed on Wistar rats and 1 ×106 UCMSCs were given by intravenous injection from tail vein on the 17th day. On day 42, rats were sacrificed and synovial tissues were obtained to detect matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, MMP-3 and MMP-13. Synovial tissues from patients with RA and osteoarthritis(OA) treated by knee arthroplasty were used to isolate FLSs. RNA of FLSs were extracted to compare MMP-1, MMP-3 and MMP-13 expression. FLSs and UCMSCs were cocultured through transwell for 72 hours. Then levels of MMPs were compared in the supernatants by Luminex. The MMPs expressed by FLSs and soluble factors expressed by MSCs were detected by real time-polymerase chain reaction(PCR). After adding antibodies to soluble factors, the MMPs expressions of RA FLSs were compared. Results MMP-1 (6.9±5.4, 1.3±1.4, P<0.05), MMP-3 (6.0±6.5, 1.4±1.0, P<0.05) and MMP-13 (21.8± 20.8, 1.5±1.6, P<0.05) expression were much higher in CIA rats compared with healthy controls. MMP-1 (1.3±1.4, 6.9±5.4,8.7±6.8, P<0.05), MMP-3(1.4±1.5, 6.0±6.5, 6.0±5.7, P<0.05) and MMP-13(3.0±3.2,
22±21, 22±26, P<0.05) expression were inhibited by UCMSCs in vivo. In vitro, MMP-1 (1.8±0.9, 0.9±0.7, t=2.44, P<0.05), MMP-3(2.6±1.7, 1.1±1.0, t=2.25, P<0.05) and MMP-13(2.4±2.3, 0.6±0.7, t=2.37, P<0.05) levels were higher in RA than OA FLSs. After coculture, MMP-13(1.3±1.2, 0.9±1.2, t=3.63, P<0.05) expressed by FLSs were down-regulated, however MMP-1 (1.5±1.4, 6.6±6.0, t=3.90, P<0.05) and MMP-3 (7±17, 22±35, t=2.86, P<0.05) were up-regulated when analyzed by paired t-test. Soluble factors such as I-DO, HGF and IL-10 were elevated. Anti-IL-10 antibody could decrease the function of UCMSCs by inhibiting MMP-13 expression in RA FLSs. Conclusion UCMSCs ameliorates RA by secreting soluble factor IL-10, which may inhibit MMPs expressed by FLSs.