High levels of serum soluble cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen 4 and its clinical significance in patients with Crohn's disease / 中华消化杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the expression of serum soluble cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen 4 (sCTLA4), the association of sCTLA4 level with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C reactive protein (CRP), as well as its role in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). The relationship-1661A/G and -1722T/C polymorphisms of CTLA4 gene and between disease susceptibility and phenotype of CD was analyzed. Methods A total of 126 CD patients and 300 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Serum sCTLA4 level was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The concentrations of ESR and CRP were analyzed by automatic ESR Analyzer SRS 100/Ⅱ and rate nephelometry, respectively. The polymorphisms of CTLA4-1661A/G and -1722 T/C were genotyped by DNA sequencing. Results Serum sCTLA4 level was higher in CD patients than in healthy controls [(18. 70±3. 72) ng/ml vs (1.72±0. 32) ng/ml, P＜0. 01)]. Among CD patients, sCTLA4 level was higher in patients with active disease when compared to those with inactive disease [(19.83±4.35) ng/ml vs (18. 02±3.14) ng/ml, P=0. 015)]. sCTLA4 level was positively correlated with ESR and CRP levels (r=0. 267, P=0. 003; r=0. 524 P ＜0.01, respectively). In CD patients, serum sCTLA4 level was significantly higher in those with stricturing disease behavior than that in those without stricturing and penetrating or with penetrating disease behavior (P= 0.021; P=0. 015, respectively). Detection of CTLA4 -1661A/G and -1722T/C polymorphisms showed no significant difference between CD patients and healthy controls. Conclusions The high level of serum sCTLA4 in CD patients is correlated with disease activity, CRP levels and disease behavior. It suggests that sCTLA4 may play an important role in pathogenesis of CD.