Relationship of soluble interleukin-2-receptor and interleukin-6 with class-specific rheumatoid factors during low-dose methotrexate treatment in rheumatoid arthritis.
We studied the effect of a 6-month treatment with low-dose MTX in 22 RA patients, with the purpose of investigating the relationship of sIL-2R and IL-6 serum changes with those of class specific RFs. The patients with RA had higher serum levels of sIL-2R (p < 0.0001), and IL-6 (p < 0.0005) than healthy volunteers. We found that the levels of IgM-RF (p < 0.0004), IgA-RF (p < 0.002), IgG-RF (p < 0.025), sIL-2R (p < 0.017) and IL-6 (p < 0.044) as well as the main clinical and laboratory variables, were significantly reduced in RA patients treated with low dose MTX for six months. The changes from baseline of IgM-RF correlated with those of IL-6 (p < 0.023), suggesting that MTX may affect IL-6 and IgM-RF production in part by a common mechanism. In conclusion our results show that there is a relationship between IL-6 and IgM-RF changes from baseline during MTX therapy, but the hypothesis of a link between the effects of this drug on cytokine network and RF production needs further investigation.
Spadaro
A
A
Institute of Rheumatology, University La Sapienza, Roma, Italy.
Taccari
E
E
Riccieri
V
V
Sensi
F
F
Sili Scavalli
A
A
Zoppini
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000097:blood*; D012995:Solubility
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D015850:Interleukin-6; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor; D008727:Methotrexate