Elevated chemokines concentration is associated with disease activity in Takayasu arteritis

Chemokines were seldom investigated in Takayasu arteritis (TA) patients. This study aimed to evaluate the plasma levels of chemokines and their association with disease activity, including C-C chemokine ligand (CCL) 2, CCL3, CCL11, CCL20, C-X-C chemokine ligand (CXCL) 8 and CXCL10.

Chemokines were measured in 85 TA patients, and 28 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. The disease activity of these TA patients was assessed according to the National Institute of Health (NIH) criteria. The relationship between the plasma levels of chemokines and disease activity was analyzed.

Among the 85 TA patients, 24 (28.2%) patients had active disease according to the NIH criteria. Significantly increased levels of CCL2, CCL3, CCL20, CXCL8 and CXCL10 were observed in TA patients when compared to healthy controls, while increased levels of CCL2, CCL20, CXCL8 and CXCL10 in TA patients with active disease when compared to those with inactive disease (all p < 0.05). The plasma cut-off values of CCL2, CCL20, CXCL8 and CXCL10 were 309.6 pg/ml, 131.4 pg/ml, 4.7 pg/ml, and 282.1 pg/ml, which maximized the ability of disease activity assessment and had a sensitivity/specificity of 66.7%/67.2%, 54.2%/77.1%,70.8%/72.1%,83.3%/54.1%, respectively (p < 0.05). Among patients with negative erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein or high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, CCL2, CCL20, CXCL8, and CXCL10 still had a high-sensitivity to recognize patients in the active phase.

This study showed that the expression level of CCL2, CCL20, CXCL8 and CXCL10 was elevated in active TA patients, indicating that these chemokines might act as potential biomarkers in evaluating the disease activity.