The role of selected cytokines from the interleukin 1 family in the pathophysiology of morphea.

Morphea (limited scleroderma) is a chronic, autoimmune disease of connective tissue that has been known for many years. However, the etiology of the disease is still not fully understood. The study was conducted on a group of 88 people, including 59 patients with morphea and 29 people qualified for the control group. We attempted to assess gene expression and plasma concentration IL-1β, IL-18 and IL-33. In the group of patients with morphea, a lower expression of IL1 beta and IL18 genes was observed in PBMC compared to the control group, and no significant differences in plasma concentrations of IL-1β, IL-18 and IL-33 were found in the group of patients with morphea compared to the control group.