Serum cytokine profiles in Takayasu's arteritis: search for biomarkers


Alibaz-Oner F., Yentur S. P., Saruhan-Direskeneli G., Direskeneli H.

Clinical and experimental rheumatology, vol.33, no.2, 2015 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 33 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2015
  • Journal Name: Clinical and experimental rheumatology
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Keywords: Takayasu's arteritis, biomarkers, disease activity, GIANT-CELL ARTERITIS, COLONY-STIMULATING FACTORS, DISEASE-ACTIVITY, POLYMYALGIA-RHEUMATICA, AUTOIMMUNITY, LYMPHOCYTES, DIAGNOSIS, INTERLEUKIN-18, TOCILIZUMAB, VASCULITIS
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Assessment of disease activity is one of the major difficulties in patients with Takayasu arteritis (TAK) during follow-up. To date, no biomarker is universally accepted to be a surrogate for active disease in TAK. In this study, we aimed to investigate levels of various pro-and anti-inflammatory molecules including serum granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-18 and IL-23 in patients with TAK.METHODS: The study included 51 patients (age: 40.6±12.2 years, F/M: 45/6) with TAK and 42 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (age: 38.1±7.4 years, F/M: 38/4). All patients fulfilled the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). TAK patients were evaluated by physician's global assessment (PGA; active/inactive) and ITAS2010 (Indian Takayasu Arteritis Clinical Activity Score) in terms of clinical activity in baseline and follow-up visits. Commercial enzyme linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA) kits were used for measurements of serum cytokine levels.RESULTS: At baseline, 21 (41.2%) patients were active according to PGA and 8 (15.7%) according to ITAS2010. Serum IL-6, IL-8 and IL-18 levels were significantly higher in patients with TAK, whereas GM-CSF, IL-10, IL-23 levels were similar to healthy controls. IL-8 significantly decreased in the follow-up, associated with a decrease of clinical activity, whereas IL-23 level significantly increased. When assessed by ITAS2010 active patients had significantly higher IL-18 levels.CONCLUSIONS: We found significantly increased IL-6, IL-8 and IL-18 levels in patients with TAK compared to healthy controls. Only IL-18 level was significantly higher in active patients assessed by ITAS2010. IL-18 was also the only cytokine in our study that correlated with CRP. These findings suggest that cytokines associated with neutrophilic, pro-inflammatory responses such as IL-6, IL-8 and IL-18 can be potential biomarkers for the assessment of disease activity in TAK and warrant further studies in larger series.