Immunolocalization of interleukin-1 receptors in the sarcolemma and nuclei of skeletal muscle in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies.

Objective Interleukin-1 (IL-1) acts via its receptors to induce gene expression that mediates protein synthesis involved in inflammation. Increased expression of IL-1α and IL-1β in muscle tissue from patients with polymyositis and dermatomyositis has been demonstrated. It is not known whether the reciprocal IL-1 receptors are expressed in human muscle tissue. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of IL-1 receptors and their ligands in muscle tissue from patients with myositis and from healthy controls. Methods Muscle biopsy tissues from 10 patients with polymyositis or dermatomyositis and 7 healthy control subjects were investigated by immunohistochemistry using antibodies against IL-1 receptor type I (IL-1RI), IL-1RII, IL-1α, IL-1β, and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra). Quantification was performed by computerized image analysis, and localization of expression was determined by double staining using immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. Results In tissue samples from the patients, IL-1RI and IL-1RII were expressed in muscle fibers, inflammatory cells, and endothelial cells. Expression in muscle fibers was localized to the sarcolemma and nuclei. IL-1α was expressed in endothelial cells and inflammatory cells, whereas IL-1β and IL-1Ra were expressed only in inflammatory cells. Expression of the two IL-1 receptors and their ligands was significantly higher in patients than in controls. IL-1 receptor expression on muscle fibers was most pronounced in the vicinity of cells expressing IL-1α and IL-1β. Conclusion The increased expression of IL-1 receptor and the colocalization with reciprocal ligands in patients with myositis but not in healthy controls support the hypothesis of a crucial role of IL-1 in the pathogenesis of polymyositis and dermatomyositis.