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Higher IL-23 serum levels might indicate active RA
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis had higher levels of serum interleukin-23 compared with healthy controls, indicating that elevated levels might be a marker for disease activity, according to study results.
Researchers in China obtained serum samples from 59 patients (39 women) with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and a control group of 30 volunteers without evidence of chronic inflammatory disease. To determine clinical disease activity, researchers included Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28), C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF) levels, and the degree of bony erosions determined by radiography. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay determined cytokine levels for interleukin-23 (IL-23) and IL-17. Serum levels of IL-23 and disease activity parameters in patients with RA were correlated.
Patients with RA had significantly elevated serum concentration of IL-23 compared with healthy controls (370.7 ng/mL ± 25.7 ng/mL vs. 248.5 ng/mL ± 20.1 ng/mL; P<.01). In patients with RA, there was a positive correlation between IL-23 and CRP level (r=0.481; P=.006), DAS28 (r=0.461; P=.007) and IL-17 level (r=0.594; P=.002), but not the RF level (r=–0.073; P=.585). Patients with RA had elevated levels of IL-23 with X-ray classification phases I, II, III and IV (P<.05).
“We confirmed that the circulating IL-23 concentration was much higher in RA patients than healthy controls, which suggests that IL-23 may be a useful index for the diagnosis of RA,” the researchers concluded. “The serum IL-23 levels in RA were correlated with the CRP and DAS28 score. Thus, the levels of IL-23 reflect RA disease activity.
“A deeper understanding of the functions and actions of IL-23 may be useful in the management of new methods in the treatment of RA.”