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Characterization of circulating interleukin-1 receptor antagonist expression in children with inflammatory bowel disease

  • Intestinal Disorders, Inflammatery Bowel Disease, Immunology, And Microbiology
  • Published:
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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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Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Departments of Periodontology, Pathology, and Surgery, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut

    Jeffrey S. Hyams MD, John E. Fitzgerald DDS, PhD, Nancy Wyzga MS, William R. Treem MD, Christopher J. Justinich MD & Donald L. Kreutzer PhD

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Hartford Hospital, P.O. Box 5037, 06102-5037, Hartford, Connecticut

    Jeffrey S. Hyams MD, John E. Fitzgerald DDS, PhD, Nancy Wyzga MS, William R. Treem MD, Christopher J. Justinich MD & Donald L. Kreutzer PhD

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  1. Jeffrey S. Hyams MD
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  2. John E. Fitzgerald DDS, PhD
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  3. Nancy Wyzga MS
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  4. William R. Treem MD
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  6. Donald L. Kreutzer PhD
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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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