title: Interleukin-37 expression is decreased in Behçet's disease and is associated with inflammation.
abstract: Interleukin-37 (IL-37) exerts broad inhibitory properties on the innate inflammatory and acquired immune responses. This study was set up to investigate the expression of IL-37 in Behçet disease (BD) and to explore its possible regulatory role during inflammation. IL-37 protein levels and mRNA expression in lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 50 BD (30 patients in active stage) patients and 20 healthy controls were assayed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cytokines in the serum and the supernatants of stimulated PBMCs and CD4(+) T cells were assayed by ELISA. Active BD patients showed a decreased IL-37 expression and increased IL-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels in serum and in PBMC culture supernatants. Active BD patients treated with corticosteroids showed an enhanced IL-37 production. Recombinant IL-37 (rIL-37) induced a significant decrease of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α). It also markedly decreased IL-17 expression in PBMCs and CD4(+) T cells from active BD patients. The present study suggests that a decreased IL-37 expression in BD patients is associated with an increased inflammatory response. Corticosteroid treatment of active BD patients is associated with an increased expression of IL-37 mRNA, which suggests that treatment may partly exert its immunosuppressive effect by regulating IL-37 production and reducing inflammatory cytokines.
authors.affiliation: University Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Department of Basic Sciences, Tunis, Tunisia; Unit Research 12SP15 "Homeostasis and Cell Dysfunction", Abderrahman Mami Hospital, University Tunis El Manar, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Eya
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bouali
authors.affiliation: University Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Department of Basic Sciences, Tunis, Tunisia; Unit Research 12SP15 "Homeostasis and Cell Dysfunction", Abderrahman Mami Hospital, University Tunis El Manar, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Wajih
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kaabachi
authors.affiliation: University Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Department of Basic Sciences, Tunis, Tunisia; Unit Research 12SP15 "Homeostasis and Cell Dysfunction", Abderrahman Mami Hospital, University Tunis El Manar, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hamzaoui
authors.affiliation: University Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Department of Basic Sciences, Tunis, Tunisia; Unit Research 12SP15 "Homeostasis and Cell Dysfunction", Abderrahman Mami Hospital, University Tunis El Manar, Tunisia. Electronic address: kamel.hamzaoui@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kamel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hamzaoui
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; C508587:IL37 protein, human; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007375:Interleukin-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger
keywords: Behçet disease; IL-17; IL-1β; IL-6; Interleukin-37; TNF-α