Increased serum concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and soluble IL-6 receptor in patients with Graves' disease.
Increased serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations have been reported in patients with thyroid destructive processes. In the present study we measured IL-6 and soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) concentrations in the serum of normal subjects and patients with Graves' disease using a high sensitivity sandwich enzyme-linked immunoassay. We found increased serum IL-6 and sIL-6R concentrations (69.3 fmol/L, and 964 pmol/L, respectively) in 49 hyperthyroid patients with Graves' disease (GD) compared to those in controls [55.8 fmol/L (P = 0.019) and 772 pmol/L (P = 0.007), respectively]. In 31 newly diagnosed GD patients, serum concentrations of IL-6 and sIL-6R during the hyperthyroid phase were elevated, and after therapy with methimazole only, serum sIL-6R concentrations returned to normal (940 vs. 726 pmol/L; P < 0.001) but serum IL-6 did not. Serum sIL-6R concentrations (mean +/- 2 SD) were higher in GD patients with active inflammatory thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy than those in patients with inactive or absent thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (P < 0.05). In conclusion, we have demonstrated activation of the IL-6 system in GD and, for the first time, have measured and found increased serum sIL-6R concentrations in hyperthyroid GD patients.
Salvi
M
M
Centro per lo Studio, Prevenzione, Diagnosi e Cura delle Tireopatie, Università degli Studi di Parma, Italy.
Girasole
G
G
Pedrazzoni
M
M
Passeri
M
M
Giuliani
N
N
Minelli
R
R
Braverman
L E
LE
Roti
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D013956:Antithyroid Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008713:Methimazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000378:metabolism*; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D012016:Reference Values; D012074:Remission Induction; D012995:Solubility; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology
D015703:Antigens, CD; D013956:Antithyroid Agents; D015850:Interleukin-6; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D008713:Methimazole