Biomarker significance of interleukins, IL-37 and IL-38 in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

INTRODUCTION

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common rheumatic condition that develops during child age and adolescence. Unbalanced production of proinflammatory cytokines is suggested to participate in the etio-pathogenesis of JIA, so the objective of this study is to evaluate the role of interleukins (IL), IL-37 and IL-38, in patients with JIA.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Sixty patients with JIA (19 males, 41 females) and 90 healthy controls (35 males, 55 females) were included in this study. Participants were assessed using the juvenile arthritis disease activity score-27 and underwent laboratory tests, including measurements for C-reactive protein, rheumatoid factor, and IL-37 and IL-38.

RESULTS

Mean ages of JIA patients and controls were 10.37±4.21 years and 11.13±3.84 years, respectively. Compared to controls, serum IL-37 levels were increased in patients with JIA (117.98±209.282ng/ml vs. 37.87±24.496ng/ml; p<0.01), whereas serum IL-38 titres were diminished in individuals with JIA (106.2±95.781ng/ml vs. 182.24±108.428 ng/ml; p<0.01).

CONCLUSION

This study provides a further layer of evidence for the role played by IL-37 in JIA and creates new questions about the potential role of IL-38 in this condition.