Intracellular cytokine production in ANCA-associated vasculitis: low levels of interleukin-10 in remission are associated with a higher relapse rate in the long-term follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
Dysregulation of cell-mediated immune response likely plays a role in the pathogenesis of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), but it has not yet been fully established. The aim of this study was to assess the intracellular cytokine production in patients with AAV at different stages of the disease, in particular, in relation to the long-term prognosis.


METHODS
We included 69 patients with AAV and 24 healthy controls. Using flow cytometry, the following intracellular cytokines (IC) were measured in all patients: interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-2 and interleukin-4 in CD3+T cells and interleukin-10 (IL-10) and interleukin 12 (IL-12) in monocytes. Patients were then prospectively followed for a median of 43 months and cytokine production was related to the long-term prognosis.


RESULTS
When compared to healthy controls, increased IL-12 production was observed in AAV patients, both active (p<0.01) and in remission (p<0.05). In remission, increased IFN-gamma production was also found (p<0.01). IL-10 production was higher in active patients than in patients in remission (p<0.05) but did not differ from controls. Patients in remission who developed a relapse during follow-up had significantly lower IL-10 production than those without relapse (p<0.01). Results of this prospective study of IC production in AAV confirm findings of previous studies measuring circulating cytokine levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Activation of the immune system in AAV patients is noticeable even in remission. Patients with AAV display increased IL-12 production, which seems to be counterbalanced by IL-10. Low IL-10 levels in remission are associated with a higher relapse rate in the long-term follow-up.
Hruskova
Zdenka
Z
Department of Nephrology, 1st Faculty of Medicine and General Teaching Hospital, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic. zd.hruskova@seznam.cz
Rihova
Zuzana
Z
Mareckova
Helena
H
Jancova
Eva
E
Rysava
Romana
R
Zavada
Jakub
J
Merta
Miroslav
M
Löster
Tomas
T
Tesar
Vladimir
V
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000276:immunology*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000276:immunology*
D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D016207:Cytokines; C508609:IL10 protein, human; D016753:Interleukin-10; D018664:Interleukin-12