Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and soluble IL-2 receptor levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with low dose oral methotrexate.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of oral methotrexate (MTX) on circulating levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).


METHODS
We measured serum concentrations of IL-6 (n = 20) and sIL-2R (n = 16) before MTX therapy and again after 12 weeks.


RESULTS
MTX significantly reduced IL-6 and sIL-2R after 12 weeks of therapy, and although the levels remained low at 24 weeks of therapy, the reduction was not significant. Reduction in cytokine levels was paralleled by an improvement in clinical indices. Placebo treatment did not significantly alter IL-6 or sIL-2R.


CONCLUSIONS
MTX appears capable of cytokine modulation, although the mechanism is not clear.
Crilly
A
A
University Department of Medicine, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, UK.
McInness
I B
IB
McDonald
A G
AG
Watson
J
J
Capell
H A
HA
Madhok
R
R
D000284:Administration, Oral; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012995:Solubility
D015850:Interleukin-6; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D008727:Methotrexate