title: Effects of interferon-alpha2a treatment on serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, tumor necrosis factor-alpha2 receptor, interleukin-2, interleukin-2 receptor, and E-selectin in Behçet's disease.
abstract: This study was performed to investigate serum levels of various cytokines and E-selectin in patients with Behçet's disease (BD) before and after treatment with interferon-alpha2a (IFN-alpha). The study population consisted of 22 patients with active BD; 15 age- and sex-matched healthy adults served as the control group. IFN-alpha (3 million units subcutaneously) was given to all patients twice a week for 3 months. Twenty of twenty-two patients experienced clinical improvement with this therapy. Pre- and post-treatment serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), TNF-alpha2-receptor (TNFalpha2R), interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-2 receptor (IL-2R), and E-selectin were measured by sandwich-type enzyme immunoassay. Baseline E-selectin, TNF-alpha, and TNF-alpha2R levels of the patients were increased in comparison with the control group and post-treatment values. However, IL-2 and IL-2R levels did not change either with treatment or compared with the control group levels. In conclusion, these results confirm the previously described efficacy of IFN-alpha in the treatment of BD. Serum levels of TNF-alpha, TNF-alpha2R, and E-selectin are prominently increased during active stage of the disease, indicating presence of immune system activation and endothelial injury/activation. Improvement of the pathological cytokinemia and endothelial disturbance accompany interferon-alpha-induced disease remission.
authors.affiliation: Hacettepe University Medical School, Department of Haematology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kosar
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haznedaroglu
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Karaaslan
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Büyükasik
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Haznedaroglu
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ozath
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sayinalp
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ozcebe
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kirazli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dündar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D019040:E-Selectin; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007376:Interleukin-2; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha