Abstract
The cytokines IL-1β and IL-6 appear to be important in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Recently, a naturally occurring interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, designated IL-1ra, which inhibits IL-1β activityin vitro andin vivo has been described. The purpose of the present study was to assess the circulating levels and relative relationships of IL-1ra, IL-1β, and IL-6 in children with IBD of varying severity. Serum/plasma samples were obtained from 32 children with ulcerative colitis, 45 with Crohn's disease, and 24 control patients. Cytokine assays were performed by enzymelinked immunoassay. IL-1ra levels were significantly elevated in children with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease of moderate/severe activity compared to patients with inactive/mild IBD or control subjects (P<0.001). IL-1β was only detectable in the circulation of two subjects with severe colitis (one ulcerative colitis, one Crohn's disease), and both had extremely elevated IL-1ra levels. IL-1ra levels were significantly related to IL-6 levels for patients with IBD (P<0.00001). Our results suggest that circulating IL-1ra appears in increasing concentrations in children with mounting degrees of disease severity as determined by clinical scoring methods as well as by the level of IL-6. Future work will need to address the clinical and prognostic value of measuring circulating IL-1ra in individuals with inflammatory bowel disease.
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Hyams, J.S., Fitzgerald, J.E., Wyzga, N. et al. Characterization of circulating interleukin-1 receptor antagonist expression in children with inflammatory bowel disease. Digest Dis Sci 39, 1893–1899 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02088122
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02088122