Patients with Mixed Cryoglobulinemia and HCV Infection, in Presence or Absence of Autoimmune Thyroiditis, Have High Serum Levels of (CXC MOTIF) Ligand (CXCL)9 and CXCL11 Chemokines

Abstract

No data are present in the literature regarding chemokine (CXC motif) ligand (CXCL)9 and CXCLll circulating levels in cryoglobulinemia associated with hepatitis C (MC+HCV), in presence/absence of autoimmune thyroiditis (AT). Serum CXCL9 and CXCLll have been measured in 38 MC+HCV patients without AT (MCo), 38 MC+HCV patients with AT (MC+AT), and in matched controls without (control 1) or with thyroiditis (control 2). Serum CXCL9 and CXCLll were significantly higher: in control 2 than control 1 (p<O.05); in MCo than control 1 and control 2 (p<O.OOI, for both); in MC+AT than control 1 and control 2 (p<O.OOOI, for both), and than MCo (p=O.OI, for both). Our study demonstrates markedly high serum levels of CXCL9 and CXCLll in patients with MC+HCV compared to healthy controls; in MC+HCV patients increased CXCL9 and CXCLlllevels were significantly associated with the presence of AT. Moreover, a strong relation between circulating CXCL9 and CXCLll in MC+HCV has been shown.Monokine induced by interferon (IFN)-y, also known as chemokine (CXC motif) ligand (CXCL)9, IFN-inducible T cell a chemoattractant (CXCLlI), and IFN-y-induced protein IO/CXCLlO, are members of a CXC chemokine subfamily that acts via the CXC chemokine receptor 3 (1,2), expressed on activated T-helper (Th)l. CXCL9, CXCLlO and CXCLll are "IFN-y inducible chemokines", and they recruit activated Thl lymphocytes to sites of inflammation.Recent evidence has shown that CXC u-chemokine CXCL I0 plays an important role in the active phases of mixed cryoglobulinemia (Me). In fact, circulating CXCLl 0 is high in particular in cryoglobulinemic patients with active vasculitis, suggesting a prevalence of the Thl immune response