IL-27 plasma level in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis subjects: The double-faced cytokine

Abstract

Interleukin-27 (IL-27) is a member of IL-6/IL-12 cytokine family which possesses pro- and anti-inflammatory properties and participates in the pathogenesis of various autoimmune diseases. In our case-control study, plasma was collected from healthy subjects as control group (n = 40) and patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) (n = 40), including new identified cases without treatment (n = 12) and those treated with Interferon beta (IFN-β) (n = 28). The plasma level of IL-27 was assessed by ELISA method. Our results indicated that plasma level of IL-27 in MS patients increased significantly compared to the control subjects (P = 0.027). Furthermore, after parting case group into the two sub-groups, results revealed a significant difference of IL-27 plasma levels between control group and treated patients (P < 0.001), but not about that of between healthy subjects and untreated MS patients (P = 0.259). Also, mean levels of IL-27 in treated and untreated patients showed a significant difference (P = 0.007). These results demonstrate the possible modulation of IL-27 during autoimmune disease in human which may suggest the suppressive or therapeutic role of IL-27 on inflammatory diseases.

IL-23 and IL-27 Levels in Serum are Associated with the Process and the Recovery of Guillain-Barré Syndrome

“…Further, we found that serum IL-23 levels were positively correlated with IL-27 concentrations during the acute and recovery phases, suggesting that IL-27 may have a similar role to IL-23. This may imply that IL-27 plays a pro-inflammatory role in GBS, consistent with previous research in MS 19 , 43 . The elevation of serum IL-27 concentrations in CJ IgM (+) group also indicates an inflammatory role in antimicrobial function and autoimmunity.…”

Multiple Sclerosis: Immunopathology and Treatment Update

“…In addition, Tr1 cells a specialized subset of T cells which secrete IL-10 are induced in the presence of IL-27 [78]. In 40 patients with RRMS, circulating plasma IL-27 levels were significantly higher compared to healthy control subjects [79]. Likewise, IL-27 and IL-27R are elevated in post-mortem MS brain lesions compared to non-MS control brains.…”

The impact of vitamin D3 intake on inflammatory markers in multiple sclerosis patients and their first-degree relatives

“…Nevertheless, in several studies, contradictory results have also been reported. For instance, Naderi et al [30] found that the plasma level of IL-27 in MS patients had up-surged in comparison with healthy controls, and Pot et al [31] also indicated these results in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Concurrently, Lalive et al [24] had acknowledged an increase in IL-27 levels in the CSF but not in the sera of MS patients compared with healthy subjects.…”

“…Moreover, in another study conducted by Isik et al [33], the association between TGF-β1 expression and vitamin D 3 deficiency was assessed in patients who had been referred to Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases Clinic which resulted in that TGF-β1 was negatively correlated with vitamin D 3 , particularly in patients with lower than 5 ng/ml 25(OH) vitamin D 3 levels. It is interesting to note that a variety of factors could contribute to such inconsistency outcomes as reported in various studies including sample size and various geographical regions, cell types, genetic inheritance in participants and the crucially double-faced or pleiotropic role of IL-27 and TGF-β1 and, in some of studies, polymorphisms in Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) genes [6,13,30,34].…”