Interleukin-17 gene expression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Interleukin-17 is a proinflammatory cytokine. Recent animal studies have shown that IL-17 plays a role in the initiation and progression of arthritis. However, whether IL-17 has a prominent role in human rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or not remains unclear. Here we investigated the role of IL-17 in patients with RA. cDNA was prepared from knee joint synovial tissues of RA (n = 11) and osteoarthritic (OA, n = 10) patients and PBMC of RA (n = 52) and healthy subjects (n = 34). IL-17 gene expression level was measured by real-time PCR, and was compared with various clinical parameters. IL-17 gene expression in synovial tissues of RA was similar to that in OA. IL-17 gene expression level in PBMC of RA patients was significantly higher than in the control. The response (changes in DAS) to two-week treatment with anti-TNF-alpha blockers (infliximab or etanercept) did not correlate with changes in IL-17 gene expression levels. The IL-17/TNF-alpha gene expression ratio at baseline (before treatment) tended to be lower in responders to the treatment. Expression of IL-17 gene in PBMC may be associated with the inflammatory process of RA. IL-17/TNF-alpha expression ratio is a potentially suitable marker of response to anti-TNF-alpha therapy.
Kohno
Mika
M
Division of Clinical Immunology, Major of Advanced Biomedical Applications, Graduate School Comprehensive Human Science, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.
Tsutsumi
Akito
A
Matsui
Hiroto
H
Sugihara
Makoto
M
Suzuki
Takeshi
T
Mamura
Mizuko
M
Goto
Daisuke
D
Matsumoto
Isao
I
Ito
Satoshi
S
Suguro
Toru
T
Sumida
Takayuki
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D000068800:Etanercept; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000494:pharmacology; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D000069285:Infliximab; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000276:immunology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000276:immunology; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000276:immunology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000187:drug effects
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015415:Biomarkers; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D020381:Interleukin-17; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab; D000068800:Etanercept