Serum interleukin-37 level and interleukin-37 gene polymorphism in patients with Behçet disease

Behçet's disease (BD) is a chronic inflammatory disease. The etiopathogenesis of BD is not well understood and several cytokines and genetic factors have been investigated. Interleukin (IL)-37, which a member of IL-1 family is an anti-inflammatory cytokine. The aim of the study was to analyze serum IL-37 level and IL-37 gene polymorphisms to assess its possible role in BD. Two hundred twenty-three patients with BD and 80 healthy controls (HC) were enrolled. Serum IL-37 level was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Deoksiribo Nucleic acids (DNA) were extracted using a genomic DNA isolation kit. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of IL-37 gene (rs3811047) was performed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR/RFLP) methods. Serum IL-37 level was not significantly different in BD and HC (p > 0.05). Serum IL-37 level was not associated with the disease activity (p > 0.05). However, its level was higher in mucocutaneous involvement compared with systemic involvement (p = 0.002) and HC (p = 0.005). IL-37 gene polymorphisms were similar in BD and HC (p > 0.05). IL-37 may play a role in the etiopathogenesis of BD by contributing to manifestation with more moderate clinical symptoms.