Similar Serum Levels of IL-6 and its Soluble Receptors in Patients with HCV-Related Arthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Pilot Study

Abstract

The high serum levels of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and its soluble receptors (sIL-6r and sgp 130), described in the course of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), have been linked to the enhanced activity of this cytokine in this disorder. In this study, the serum concentrations of IL-6 and its soluble receptors were determined in a group of patients with HCV-related arthritis (HCVrA), a condition resembling RA in several aspects, and then compared to those found in a sample of subjects affected by RA. Twenty-one patients with HCVrA, 24 patients with RA and 20 healthy subjects (control group) were examined. Different ELISA methods were used for determination of serum concentrations of IL-6, sIL-6r and sgp 130. Increased IL-6 serum levels were found in 15 (71%) of the patients with HCVrA and in 16 (62%) of those with RA. Eight (38%) of the patients with HCVrA and 11 (46%) of those with RA denoted high levels of sIL-6r, while sgp 130 levels were elevated in 21 (76%) of the patients with HCVrA and in 16 (69%) of those with RA. A significant difference between the median values of sIL-6r and sgp 130 levels in the two groups of patients versus controls was found. A mild correlation of these parameters with RF levels was detected in the RA group. Furthermore, in HCVrA patients the serum levels of IL-6, sIL-6r and sgpl30 appeared unrelated to HCV viraemia and to levels of transaminases. The enhanced serum levels of IL-6 in HCVra patients indicate an increased synthesis and hyperactivity of this cytokine in HCVrA, and the substantial similarity of the behaviour of IL-6 and its serum receptors in the two groups of patients suggests common mechanisms with RA, in which the function of IL-6 is central.

Inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases biomarkers in chronic hepatitis C virus infection: A review

“…In addition, lipid levels, which are a component of many CVD risk stratification tools are known to be decreased in CHC patients, 173 45 Antonelli et al 51 Caliskan et al 55 Cielecka-Kuszyk et al 56 Falasca et al 164 Siloşi et al 166 Ramos-Casals et al 167 Riccio et al 169 Nascimento et al 162 45 Caliskan et al 55 Cielecka-Kuszyk et al 56 Mezher et al 68 Elsammak et al 74 Pawlak et al 160 Siloşi et al 166 Ramos-Casals et al 167 Antonelli et al 168 sTNFRI/II el-Din et al 165 Realdon et al 170 CRP/hsCRP Caliskan et al 55 Yelken et al 158 Chennu et al 159 Pawlak et al 160 Caliskan et al 161 Nascimento et al 162 HCV-infected and HCV uninfected patients, 100,174 and there is a growing concern that CVD risk assessment using current risk scoring tools may be suboptimal for patients with heightened inflammatory states leading to an underestimation of risk in these patients. 175 CRP is an established cardiac biomarker for increased CVD risk and has been included in traditional risk assessment algorithms.…”

“…The immune activation associated with CHC infection can lead to the development of immune related complications, which may further influence the levels of inflammatory markers associated with CVD. Increased levels of IL‐6, IL‐10, TNF‐α, and sTNFR in HCV‐infected patients with complications such as cryoglobulinemia, Sjogren syndrome, lymphoproliferative diseases, hemophilia, and HCV related arthritis have been reported compared to CHC‐infected patients without such complications or to healthy controls …”

“…Increased levels of IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, and sTNFR in HCV-infected patients with complications such as cryoglobulinemia, Sjogren syndrome, lymphoproliferative diseases, hemophilia, and HCV related arthritis have been reported compared to CHC-infected patients without such complications or to healthy controls. 45,51,56,[164][165][166][167][168][169][170] Therefore, special consideration may be needed when interpreting serum inflammatory markers in HCV populations who have DM, ESRD, and/or concomitant immune complications. In these populations with HCV infection and inflammatory conditions, there we no studies evaluating the change of these markers with HCV treatment, and none evaluated the association of these markers to subclinical and/or clinical CVD.…”

Interaction of polymorphism of the interleukin-6 gene with immunological damages and their role in the development of mixed cryoglobulinemia in patients with chronic hepatitis C

“…This allows us to consider the IL-6 gene polymorphism as a genetically determined risk factor for the development and progression of this extrahepatic manifestation in patients with CHC. In the available literature we did not find scientific research on the role of IL-6 gene polymorphism in the development of HCV-associated mixed cryoglobulinemia, but we found work that proves the role of IL-6 in the development and progression of rheumatologic diseases [20] and joint damage in CHC [21]. *: the difference is significant compared with healthy people (P < 0.001); **: the difference is significant compared to patients without mixed cryoglobulinemia (P < 0.01).…”

Роль Поліморфізму Гена Інтерлейкіну-6 У Перебігу Хронічного Гепатиту С Та Формуванні Змішаної Кріоглобулінемії

“…В сучасній літературі нами не знайдено наукових робіт щодо ролі поліморфізму гена ІЛ-6 в розвитку змішаної кріоглобулінемії у хворих на ХГС, проте певна кількість робіт доводить роль вмісту цього цитокіну в розвитку та прогресуванні як ревмато-логічних захворювань [16], так й уражень суглобів у хворих на ХГС [17]. 2.…”