Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42069886›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2026

Circulating IL-33 as a sensitive alarmin in systemic lupus erythematosus: a biomarker for disease activity and skin-specific manifestations.

Li Li, Xi Tan, Chen Zhao, Sijian Wen, Wenyu Li, Runge Fan, Wei Hou, Youkun Lin

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 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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0citing papers 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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0 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Li LiDepartment of Dermatology and Venereology, The People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guangxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanning, 530021, China.
Xi TanDepartment of Dermatology and Venereology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China.
Chen ZhaoDepartment of Dermatology and Venereology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China.
Sijian WenDepartment of Dermatology and Venereology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China.
Wenyu LiDepartment of Dermatology and Venereology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China.
Runge FanDepartment of Dermatology and Venereology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China.
Wei HouGuangxi Key Laboratory of Thalassemia Research, Nanning, 530021, China.
Youkun LinDepartment of Dermatology and Venereology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China. linyoukun@gxmu.edu.cn.

Funding

Guangxi Natural Science Foundation Project 2024GXNSFBA010152National Natural Science Foundation Project of China 8226120190Self-funded Research Project of the Health Commission of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Z-A20250497
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Interleukin-33 (IL-33), an alarmin predominantly released by keratinocytes and endothelial cells, plays a pivotal role in type 2 immune responses and has been linked to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study aimed to explore the relationship between plasma IL-33 levels and clinical features in SLE patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 133 SLE patients and 81 normal controls. Plasma IL-33 levels were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Clinical parameters, such as SLEDAI-2K scores, photosensitivity, skin lesion distribution, laboratory indices, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry results were collected. SLE patients demonstrated significantly higher circulating IL-33 levels compared to healthy controls (median 342.60 pg/ml vs. 56.77 pg/ml, p < 0.0001). IL-33 levels were positively associated with SLEDAI-2K scores (r = 0.279, p = 0.001), photosensitivity (p = 0.02), and facial skin lesions (p = 0.001). The expression levels of the IL-33 receptor (ST2) in head and face cutaneous tissues were markedly higher than those in other anatomical regions and in normal control subjects (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed negative correlations with complement C3 (β = - 0.303, p < 0.001) and positive correlations with IgA (β = 0.473, p < 0.001) and hs-CRP (β = 0.310, p < 0.001). Notably, IL-33 levels were higher in male patients (p = 0.002) and treatment-naïve patients (p = 0.03). Our data associate circulating IL-33 with SLE activity, photosensitivity, and specific serological markers. For the association between IL-33 and cutaneous photosensitivity, this study provides further histological evidence. This finding provides a novel perspective on the mechanism of photosensitivity in SLE, demonstrating the potential of IL-33 as a biomarker for patient stratification management.

Indexed as

Interleukin-33Lupus Erythematosus, SystemicSkinAdultBiomarkersCase-Control StudiesCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansInterleukin-1 Receptor-Like 1 ProteinMaleMiddle AgedPhotosensitivity DisordersBiomarkersIL33 protein, humanInterleukin-1 Receptor-Like 1 ProteinInterleukin-33BiomarkerIL-33PhotosensitivitySystemic lupus erythematosus

Identifiers

PMID42069886
PMCPMC13323393

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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.