High values of Th1 (CXCL10) and Th2 (CCL2) chemokines in patients with psoriatic arthtritis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate serum levels of CXCL10 and CCL2 in a large series of PsA patients, and to relate chemokines levels to the clinical phenotype of these patients.


METHODS
Serum levels of CXCL10 and CCL2 were measured in 68 PsA patients, and in gender- and age-matched (1:1) controls drawn from the general population.


RESULTS
PsA patients showed significantly (p<0.001) higher mean CXCL10 serum levels than controls (p<0.0001), (269+/-234 vs. 92+/-53 pg/ml; respectively). By defining a high CXCL10 level as a value at least 2 SD above the mean value of the control group (>198 pg/ml), 49% of patients with PsA and 5% of the control subjects had high CXCL10 (p<0.0001; chi-square). A significant inverse correlation was observed between CXCL10 serum levels and disease duration (r= 0.374, p=0.002).Patients with PsA showed significantly higher mean CCL2 serum levels than controls (p<0.001), (512+/-309 vs. 386+/-172, pg/ml; respectively). By defining a high CCL2 level as a value at least 2 SD above the mean value of the control group (>730 pg/ml), 19% of patients with PsA, 2% of the control subjects had high CCL2 (p<0.001; chi-square=22.02).


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, high circulating levels of CXCL10 and CCL2 have been found in PsA patients, with a Th1 immune predominance in the early phase of the disease. A decline of CXCL10 levels has been observed in long lasting PsA, with a significant increase of the CCL2/CXCL10 ratio, suggesting a shift from Th1 to Th2 immune response in long duration PsA.
Antonelli
A
A
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy.
Fallahi
P
P
Delle Sedie
A
A
Ferrari
S M
SM
Maccheroni
M
M
Bombardieri
S
S
Riente
L
L
Ferrannini
E
E