Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41710894›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in immunology2026

Elevated serum interleukin-38 levels in polymyositis and dermatomyositis: diagnostic implications and correlations with inflammatory markers.

Wen Qin, Zhi Li, Guohua Fu, Yan Li, Wenyan Huang, Mengxi Yu, Xiudi Wu, Mingcai Li

Abstract read
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Article in Frontiers in immunology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Wen QinDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
Zhi LiDepartment of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
Guohua FuDepartment of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
Yan LiDepartment of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
Wenyan HuangDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
Mengxi YuDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
Xiudi WuDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
Mingcai LiDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Interleukin (IL)-38 has been recently identified as an anti-inflammatory cytokine. Polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM) are two prevalent clinical inflammatory myopathies. This study aims to investigate the serum concentrations of IL-38 in patients with PM/DM and their association with these conditions. Methods: Serum IL-38 levels were quantified using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method in a cohort of 117 subjects, comprising 77 patients with myositis (8 with PM and 69 with DM) and 40 healthy controls. A comprehensive assessment of preliminary clinical characteristics was conducted for each participant through physical examination and review of medical records. The diagnostic utility of IL-38 in PM/DM was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic curve. Results: The findings revealed that serum IL-38 concentrations were significantly elevated in patients with PM/DM compared to the control group, irrespective of the presence of interstitial lung disease. No significant difference was observed between the PM and DM groups. Furthermore, IL-38 demonstrated a positive correlation with the visual analogue scale, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and other inflammatory markers. Finally, IL-38, either independently or in conjunction with LDH, exhibits significant diagnostic potential. Conclusion: The study's findings reveal that patients with PM/DM who present elevated serum levels of IL-38 also show a positive correlation with LDH levels. This suggests IL-38 may participate in modulating inflammatory immune responses in PM/DM and could serve as a potential candidate indicator for these conditions.

Indexed as

BiomarkersDermatomyositisInflammation MediatorsInterleukinsPolymyositisAdultAgedFemaleHumansL-Lactate DehydrogenaseMaleMiddle AgedROC CurveBiomarkersIL-38 protein, humanInflammation MediatorsInterleukinsL-Lactate Dehydrogenasedermatomyositisinterleukin-38interstitial lung diseaselactate dehydrogenasemyopathypolymyositis

Identifiers

PMID41710894
PMCPMC12909185

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.