IL-27 plasma level in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis subjects: The double-faced cytokine

Interleukin-27 (IL-27) is a member of IL-6/IL-12 cytokine family which possesses pro- and anti-inflammatory properties and participates in the pathogenesis of various autoimmune diseases. In our case-control study, plasma was collected from healthy subjects as control group (n = 40) and patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) (n = 40), including new identified cases without treatment (n = 12) and those treated with Interferon beta (IFN-β) (n = 28). The plasma level of IL-27 was assessed by ELISA method. Our results indicated that plasma level of IL-27 in MS patients increased significantly compared to the control subjects (P = 0.027). Furthermore, after parting case group into the two sub-groups, results revealed a significant difference of IL-27 plasma levels between control group and treated patients (P < 0.001), but not about that of between healthy subjects and untreated MS patients (P = 0.259). Also, mean levels of IL-27 in treated and untreated patients showed a significant difference (P = 0.007). These results demonstrate the possible modulation of IL-27 during autoimmune disease in human which may suggest the suppressive or therapeutic role of IL-27 on inflammatory diseases.