Interleukin-8 [IL-8] production by activated neutrophils in rheumatoid disease

lnterleukin-8 [IL-8] produced by neutrophils was estimated before and after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide [LPS] in four groups of subjects:-a- 12 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis, b-8 patients with juvenile chronic arthritis [JCA], c-12 patients with osteoarthritis [OA] and d- 12 healthy controls. Neurorphil IL-8 production without stimulation by exogenous mitogen was significantly higher in different groups of patients than in the control group. The contrary was detected when neutrophils were stimulated by LPS. On the other hand, significantly higher levels of IL-8 were produced by neutrophils [with or without stimulation] from patients with active RA than from active JCA and OA. This may suggest that the higher levels of IL-8 released from neutrophils may be, at least in part, responsible for the different behaviour of RA with respect to JCA and OA. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role [if any] played by IL-8 in the pathogenesis of OA