title: Relationship between IL-18 and sICAM-1 serum levels in patients affected by coeliac disease: preliminary considerations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cytokine production from activated T cells play a pathogenetic role in mucosal lesions of coeliac disease (CD). Active interleukin (IL)-18 is expressed in the small intestinal mucosa in CD but not in healthy controls. IL-18 enhances intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression. We analyzed IL-18 serum levels in CD patients before and after gluten-free diet and the possible correlation with soluble ICAM-1 (sICAM-1) serum levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study comprises ten CD patients before and after gluten free diet and ten healthy controls. Serum IL-18 and sICAM-1 levels were assayed by immunoenzymatic methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum IL-18 and sICAM-1 levels were significantly higher in patients with CD before diet with respect to healthy controls (P<0.05), with a highly significant correlation between the two parameters (Rho=0.800, P=0.0167). Gluten free diet significantly reduces IL-18 and sICAM-1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings show that IL-18 serum concentrations correlated with the clinical status of CD patients suggesting a role for this cytokine in the pathophysiology of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Chair of Immunopathology, Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina Medical School, University Hospital 'G. Martino', Via Centonze no. 200, is. 98, 98123, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosaria Alba
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Merendino
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Pasquale
authors.forename: Giacomo Carlo
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Sturniolo
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruello
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Albanese
authors.forename: Paola Lucia
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Minciullo
authors.forename: Sebastiano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Mauro
authors.forename: Sebastiano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gangemi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005983:Glutens / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D020382:Interleukin-18; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D005983:Glutens