OBJECTIVE: To investigate plasma concentrations of interleukin 12 (IL-12) and their relationship with disease activity in patients with Takayasu's arteritis (TA). METHODS: IL-12 levels were determined by quantitative enzyme immunoassay in the plasma of 80 patients with TA, 25 age/sex matched healthy controls, and 15 followup patients with active TA on immunosuppressive therapy. RESULTS: Significantly increased levels of IL-12 were observed in patients with TA versus controls (90.6 +/- 365.3 vs 6.9 +/- 11.3 pg/ml; p < 0.05) and in patients with active versus inactive TA (168.7 +/- 507.0 vs 12.6 +/- 26.9 pg/ml; p = 0.005). The prevalence of IL-12 (the cytokine levels above cutoff value) was higher in patients than in controls [44% (35/80) vs 12% (3/25); p < 0.01] and in patients with active versus inactive TA [57% (23/40) vs 30% (40); p < 0.05]. Six of the 9 patients who became inactive on followup also had normalized levels of IL-12. CONCLUSION: The data indicate that IL-12 might be an important mediator of inflammation in TA.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate plasma concentrations of interleukin 12 (IL-12) and their relationship with disease activity in patients with Takayasu's arteritis (TA). METHODS: IL-12 levels were determined by quantitative enzyme immunoassay in the plasma of 80 patients with TA, 25 age/sex matched healthy controls, and 15 followup patients with active TA on immunosuppressive therapy. RESULTS: Significantly increased levels of IL-12 were observed in patients with TA versus controls (90.6 +/- 365.3 vs 6.9 +/- 11.3 pg/ml; p < 0.05) and in patients with active versus inactive TA (168.7 +/- 507.0 vs 12.6 +/- 26.9 pg/ml; p = 0.005). The prevalence of IL-12 (the cytokine levels above cutoff value) was higher in patients than in controls [44% (35/80) vs 12% (3/25); p < 0.01] and in patients with active versus inactive TA [57% (23/40) vs 30% (40); p < 0.05]. Six of the 9 patients who became inactive on followup also had normalized levels of IL-12. CONCLUSION: The data indicate that IL-12 might be an important mediator of inflammation in TA.
Authors: Haner Direskeneli; Sibel Z Aydin; Tanaz A Kermani; Eric L Matteson; Maarten Boers; Karen Herlyn; Raashid A Luqmani; Tuhina Neogi; Philip Seo; Ravi Suppiah; Gunnar Tomasson; Peter A Merkel Journal: J Rheumatol Date: 2011-07 Impact factor: 4.666