Clinical significance of interleukin-32 expression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

To explore the clinical significance of interleukin (IL)-32 in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and analyze the correlations of IL-32 with C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and rheumatoid factor (RF).

A total of 97 patients with RA and 36 patients with non-RA connective tissue diseases (CTD) were included. The mRNA levels of IL-32 and TNF-α in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were determined using a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The plasma concentrations of IL-32 and TNF-α were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Spearman's method.

The mRNA levels of IL-32 and TNF-α in the active RA groups were significantly higher than those in the healthy control, stable RA, and non-RA CTD groups (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between the stable RA, healthy control, and non-RA CTD groups (P > 0.05). The concentrations of IL-32 and TNF-α in the active RA groups were significantly higher than those in the stable RA and control groups (P < 0.01). IL-32 expression was positively correlated with TNF-α, ESR, CRP, RF, and DAS28 in patients with RA (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION The levels of IL-32 and TNF-α in the peripheral blood of patients with active RA are significantly higher than in that of patients with stable RA and healthy people. The IL-32 level in peripheral blood may provide a reference for the detection of RA activity.