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Interleukin-6 and soluble interleukin-6 receptor are elevated in large-vessel vasculitis: a cross-sectional and
Lia Pulsatelli1, Luigi Boiardi2, Elisa Assirelli3
1Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute, Bologna, Italy. lia.pulsatelli@ior.it.
Insights
Serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) were elevated in large-vessel vasculitis patients. Soluble IL-6 receptor may indicate disease activity in Takayasu
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Rheumatology
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Large-vessel vasculitis (LVV) encompasses conditions like Takayasu's arteritis (TAK) and giant cell arteritis (GCA).
- Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine implicated in various inflammatory conditions.
- The role of IL-6 and its soluble receptor (sIL-6R) in LVV pathogenesis and activity remains to be fully elucidated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate serum levels of IL-6 and sIL-6R in patients with TAK and GCA.
- To determine the relationship between these markers and disease activity in LVV.
- To explore potential biomarker utility for disease monitoring.
Main Methods:
- Serum samples were collected from 33 TAK patients, 14 GCA patients, and 60 healthy controls.
- Disease activity was assessed using 18F-FDG PET/CT and clinical indices.
- IL-6 and sIL-6R levels were quantified using ELISA kits, with longitudinal analysis in a subset of TAK patients.
Main Results:
- Both IL-6 and sIL-6R serum levels were significantly higher in GCA and TAK patients compared to controls.
- In TAK, IL-6 was elevated regardless of disease phase, while sIL-6R was higher in active disease.
- In GCA, IL-6 was elevated in active disease, whereas sIL-6R was elevated irrespective of activity.
Conclusions:
- sIL-6R may serve as a potential biomarker for disease activity in Takayasu's arteritis.
- IL-6 modifications might be more indicative of active disease in Giant Cell Arteritis.
- These findings contribute to understanding the IL-6 pathway in LVV and potential therapeutic targets.
Objectives:
To investigate serum levels of IL- 6 and soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) in patients with large-vessel vasculitis and their relationship with disease activity.
Methods:
Sera were obtained from 33 Takayasu's arteritis (TAK) patients and 14 giant cell arteritis (GCA) patients, and from 60 age-matched normal controls (NCs). Disease activity was assessed using 18F-FDG PET/CT and clinical indices including NIH/Kerr criteria and ITAS. Among TAK patients with active disease at baseline, clinical records and serum samples from 11 TAK patients were available for the longitudinal study. IL-6 and sIL-6R serum levels were evaluated using commercial ELISA kits.
Results:
IL-6 and sIL-6R serum levels were significantly higher in both GCA and TAK patients compared to NCs. IL-6 levels in TAK patients were significantly increased irrespective of disease phase, while a significant increase in sIL-6R concentrations was only found in TAK patients with active disease. Conversely, in GCA, IL-6 levels were significantly raised only in patients with active diseases, whereas sIL-6R levels appeared to be significantly higher irrespective of disease activity. Longitudinal analysis showed that levels of sIL-6R in TAK patients were significantly higher only at baseline, compared to NCs, whereas IL-6 levels were found to be significantly increased at each follow-up time point.
Conclusions:
These overall results might suggest a role for sIL-6R as a potential biomarker for disease activity in TAK patients, whereas in GCA, modifications of IL-6 might better identify patients with active disease.
