J Rheum Dis.  2020 Jul;27(3):152-158. 10.4078/jrd.2020.27.3.152.

Circulating Interleukin-37 Levels in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Their Correlations With Disease Activity: A Meta-analysis

• Lee YH
• Song GG

• KMID: 2504030
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4078/jrd.2020.27.3.152

Abstract

Objective
. To assess the circulating levels of interleukin (IL)-37 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and determine a correlation between plasma/serum IL-37 levels and disease activity.
Methods
. We performed a meta-analysis comparing plasma/serum IL-37 level between patients with RA or SLE and controls, and examined correlation coefficients between circulating IL-37 levels and disease activity.
Results
. A total of 14 publications included 711 patients with RA and 394 controls, 522 patients with SLE and 259 controls. In the RA group, the IL-37 level was significantly higher than in the control group (standardized mean difference [SMD]=1.222, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.722∼1.711, p＜0.001). Subgroup analysis by sample size showed a significantly higher IL-37 level in RA group of large (n＞90) and small sample numbers (n≤90) (SMD=0.994, 95% CI=0.323∼1.666, p＜0.001; SMD=1.617, 95% CI=1.328∼1.906, p＜0.001). In addition, IL-37 level in SLE group was significantly higher than in control group (SMD=1.096, 95% CI=0.635∼1.558, p＜0.001). A strong association between circulating IL-37-level and RA activity based on Disease activity Score 28 was shown (correlation coefficients=0.547, 95% CI=0.355∼0.695, p＜0.001). Meta-analysis of the coefficients for correlation indicated a positive correlation between the circulating level of IL-37 and SLE activity based on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (coefficients for correlation＜0.588, 95 % CI=0.270∼0.806, p=0.003).
Conclusion
. Our meta-analysis showed that circulating IL-37 levels are higher in RA and SLE patients, and there is a positive correlation between IL-37 and disease activity in RA and SLE.

Keyword

IL37 protein; human; Rheumatoid arthritis; Systemic lupus erythematosus

Figure

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  Figure 1 Meta-analysis of the relationship between interleukin-37 levels and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (A) or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (B). Std diff: standard difference, CI: confidence interval.

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  Figure 2 Meta-analysis of correlation coefficients between interleukin-37 levels and the activity of rheumatoid arthritis (A) or systemic lupus erythematosus (B). CI: confidence interval.

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