title: Association of interferon gamma, tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 6 serum levels with systemic lupus erythematosus activity.
abstract: We investigated serum level of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 59 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 16 healthy controls. We examined a possible association between serum levels of these cytokines and SLE activity, as well as correlation between IFN-gamma concentration and the level of TNF-alpha and IL-6 and also IL-6 and TNF-alpha. TNF-alpha and IL-6 were detectable in all 59 patients and normal individuals and their level was significantly higher in SLE patients than in the control group (p < 0.001 and p < 0.02, respectively). In contrast IFN-gamma was detectable in 23 (39%) patients and in only 3 (20%) healthy individuals. We found positive correlation between serum concentration of TNF-alpha and IL-6 with SLE activity and no such correlation with IFN-gamma. We also observed positive correlation between serum levels of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma and IL-6 as well as TNF-alpha and IL-6. In conclusion, an increase in the serum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 may be useful markers for SLE activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venerology, University Medical School, Krzemieniecka, Lódź, Poland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Robak
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sysa-Jedrzejewska
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dziankowska
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Torzecka
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chojnowski
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Robak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma