title: Simultaneous evaluation of the circulating levels of both Th1 and Th2 chemokines in patients with autoimmune Addison's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chemokines play a key role in the recruitment of the immune cells into the autoimmune process. Thus, the simultaneous evaluation of circulating levels of Th1-related chemokines, such as CX chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10) and macrophage inflammatory proteins 1α (CCL3/MIP-1α), and Th2-related chemokines, such as macrophage inflammatory proteins 1 β (CCL4/MIP-1β) could be useful in the approach to some autoimmune diseases, including autoimmune Addison's disease (AAD).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate plasmatic levels of MIP-1α, MIP-1β, CXCL10 and adrenocortical antibodies in patients with AAD under treatment with corticosteroids.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve women and 5 men (group 1) were divided in 2 subgroups: 9 subjects with isolated AAD (group 1a) and 8 with AAD associated with chronic autoimmune thyroiditis (group 1b). MIP-1α, MIP- 1β and CXCL10 were evaluated in the serum of all patients and in 20 healthy controls, using a system for microarray suspension.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of MIP-1α, MIP-1β and CXCL10 resulted significantly increased vs controls (p<0.001). An inverse significant correlation between the serum levels of MIP- 1β and the duration of the disease was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High levels of MIP-1α and MIP-1β associated with increased levels of CXCL10 in AAD seem to indicate a role of these chemokines in the autoimmune pathology of adrenal gland through the recruitment in loco of Th1 and Th2 cells. The simultaneous measurement of Th1-related chemokines (CXCL10 and MIP-1α) and of Th2-related chemokine MIP-1β in the serum of patients with AAD would sustain a novel preliminary hypothesis on the immune microenvironment of chronic autoimmune inflammation within adrenal glands.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Surgery, F Magrassi-A Lanzara, Second University of Naples, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bellastella
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rotondi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pane
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Costantini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Colella
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Calemma
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Capone
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Falorni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Castello
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Sinisi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bizzarro
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chiovato
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bellastella
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Bellis
mesh_terms: D000224:Addison Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D018925:Chemokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D018925:Chemokines