Serum interleukin-1 receptor antagonist is an early indicator of colitis onset in Galphai2-deficient mice.
OBJECTIVE
To study the serum concentration of IL-1beta, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) and IL-18 in Galphai2-deficient mice at the age of 6 (healthy), 12 (pre-colitic) and 24 wk (colitic) and in healthy control mice.


METHODS
At the time of killing, serum samples were collected and IL-1beta, IL-1Ra and IL-18 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.


RESULTS
Serum concentration of IL-1Ra was significantly increased in pre-colitic (median: 524 ng/L; P=0.02) and colitic (450 ng/L; P=0.01), but not in healthy (196 ng/L) Galphai2-deficient mice as compared with controls (217 ng/L). Serum concentrations of IL-1beta did not differ between Galphai2-deficient mice and their controls, irrespective of age, IL-18 was significantly increased in colitic, but not in pre-colitic mice compared with controls (510 ng/L vs 190 ng/L; P=0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The increased serum concentrations of IL-18 and IL-1Ra in established diseases are suggested as markers of ongoing colitis. Interestingly, the significantly increased serum concentration of IL-1Ra in pre-colitic mice is found to be an early marker of disease progression.
Department of Clinical Immunology, Göteborg University, Guldhedsgatan 10 A, S-413 46 Göteborg, Sweden. olof.hultgren@immuno.gu.se
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Hultgren
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Berglund
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Bjursten
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Hultgren Hörnquist
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D003092:Colitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D051960:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunit, Gi2 / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009929:Organ Size; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology
D015415:Biomarkers; C507764:Il1rn protein, mouse; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D020382:Interleukin-18; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins; D051960:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunit, Gi2