(IL-10)‎ production in correlation with disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract EN

Background : Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease with variable clinical features in which immune dysregulation such as defective T cell functions and over autoantibodies production is a key feature in the pathogenesis.

Aim : This work aimed to reveal the relationship of IL - 10 and IL - 18 production in SLE patients in relation to disease activity.

Material & Methode : 30 SLE patients collected from department of Internal Medcine Medical Research Institute Alexandria University and 15 age and sex matched healthy individuals as a group of control.

ESR and serum levels of C-reactive protein, C3 and C4 were determined.

The levels of IL - 10 and IL - 18 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells PBMCs culture supernatant samples were detected with and without stimulation with phytohemaggautinin (PHA) using ELISA technique.

Correlations between these parameter and disease activity (SLE Disease Activity Index) were also investigated.

Result : The decrease in C3 and C4 concentrations seemed to be due to hypercatabolism, which may result from deficiency of the alternative pathway regulatory proteins such as factor H and factor I.

A significant negative correlation between serum levels of both C3&C4 and disease activity index score (p = 0.000 r = - 0.713 for C3 and p = 0.000 r = -0.670 for C4).

The levels of both IL - 10 and IL - 18 in the PBMCs culture supernatant were significantly increased in SLE patient than controls before and after stimulation with PHA.

The disturbance of IL - 10&IL - 18 production may be responsible for the increased apoptosis of lymphocytes and reduced clearance of apoptotic cell materials in SLE patients There were significant positive correlations between each of IL - 10 levels and IL - 18 levels in the culture supernatant before and after stimulation with PHA and disease activity index score.

Conculsion : The role of IL 10 could be through alteration of Th1 / Th2 cell activities in favor of the Th2 type response and stimulation of B cell activation and antibody formation.

The role of IL - 18 could be through promotion of Th1 cell development and activation which augment type 1 cytokine production.

The elevated circulating IL - 18 concentration may be related to the initiation of the inflammation, fever and organ damage commonly observed in SLE patients.

The use of cytokine antagonist like IL - 18bp or the use of other immunoregulatory cytokines may represent a promising therapy for SLE.