The clinical significance of serum interleukin-17 in rheumatoid arthritis / 中华风湿病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the serum concentration of interleukin (IL)-17 in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis and the clinical implication. Methods Serum IL-17 level of 51 active RA patients were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbentassay (ELISA). The relationship between serum levels of IL-17 in active RA patients and clinic features were analyzed. Two independent samples t test, ANOVA for repeated, one-way ANOVA and Spearman's Chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. Results ① Serum IL-17 levels were elevated in active RA patients (365±63) pg/ml than in normal controls (86±13) pg/ml (P<0.01); ② Serum IL-17 levels in active RA was correlated with morning stiffiness duration, swelling index, Ritchie index, CRP, ESR, RF, X-ray score, DAS score (r =0.423, 0.213, 0.252, 0.276, 0.346, 0.251, 0.412, 0.398; P<0.05). ③ The levels of IL-17 between phase I (296±79) pg/ml and Phase II (360±89) pg/ml, phase II and phase HI (464±74) pg/ml, Phase I and Phase Ⅳ (369±83) pg/ml in RA group were statistically significantly different (P<0.05). Conclusion The levels of serum IL-17 in active RA patients are higher than the normal controls. The elevated serum IL-17 levels may be the useful markers for active RA.In addition,interleukin-17 is involved in disease progression and bony erosion of RA, and it maybe a new treatmenttarget of RA.