Different cytokine profiles in patients with chronic and acute reactive arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
Analysis of cytokine production in patients with acute and chronic reactive arthritis (AcReA/ChrReA) in order to search for new treatment possibilities.


METHODS
Cytokine production by peripheral blood and synovial fluid mononuclear cells (PBMCs/SFMCs) of 28 patients with AcReA, 27 patients with ChrReA, 26 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 31 healthy controls was analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and flow-cytometry. Production of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin (IL)-10 was measured by ELISA, while the percentages of TNF-alpha-, IFN-gamma- and IL-4-positive CD3+ cells were determined in the same groups of patients and healthy subjects using flow cytometry.


RESULTS
Spontaneous TNF-alpha production observed in PBMCs of ChrReA, but not of AcReA, patients was significantly higher (P<0.001) than in healthy controls. The percentages of TNF-alpha-positive CD3+ blood cells in ChrReA exceeded that of RA patients and healthy controls (P<0.05 and P<0.001, respectively). Also, the percentages of IFN-gamma-positive CD3+ cells were significantly higher in peripheral blood and synovial fluid of ChrReA patients (P<0.05 and P<0.05, respectively) as compared with AcReA. In ChrReA spontaneous IL-10 production in PBMCs was similar to that observed in healthy controls, while in RA and AcReA the production of IL-10 was significantly increased (P<0.05 and P<0.05, respectively). IL-4 production was low in all study groups with no significant differences detected.


CONCLUSIONS
High production of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma detected in ChrReA supports the possible use of anti-TNF-alpha treatment in ChrReA.
Butrimiene
I
I
Department of Rheumatology, Vilnius University Institute of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Zygimantu 9, LT-2600, Vilnius, Lithuania. irena.butrimiene@santa.lt
Jarmalaite
S
S
Ranceva
J
J
Venalis
A
A
Jasiuleviciute
L
L
Zvirbliene
A
A
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016918:Arthritis, Reactive / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis
D016207:Cytokines; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma