IL-6 And IL-8 Levels in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

IL-6 and IL-8 levels in the synovial fluid and plasma in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) were measured. Fourteen patients with RA and 12 patients with OA were subjected in this study. IL-6 and IL-8 levels were measured by ELISA. The measurable limit of these 2 levels was 0.156 ng/ml and 0.01 ng/ml. IL-6 level in the synovial fluid in all patients with RA was 5.05 ± 0.93 ng/ml (mean ± SD) exceeding detectable limit IL-6 level in 8 of 12 patients with OA was 1.12 ± 0.73 ng/ml exceeding detectable limit. IL-8 level in synovial fluid in all patients with RA was 9.30 ± 2.85 ng/ml exceeding measurable limit. IL-8 level in 4 of 12 patients with OA was 0.33 ± 0.38 ng/ml exceeding measurable limit Both IL-6 and IL-8 levels in the synovial fluid were significantly higher in patients with RA than those in patients with OA. The significant correlation was observed between IL-6 and IL-8 levels in the synovial fluid in patients with RA (r=0.5864, p<0.05). Both IL-6 and IL-8 levels in the synovial fluid in volunteers were less than detected limit. IL-6 in the plasma was detected in 11 of 14 patients with RA and 2 of 12 patients with OA, and its level was low. IL-8 in the plasma was detected in 4 of 14 the above mentioned results, it was suggested that production of high levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in the synovial fluid in patients with RA may be related to the morphological formation of the arthritis patients with RA and 1 of 12 patients with OA, and its level was low in all cases. From the above mentioned results, it was suggested that production of high levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in the synovial fluid in patients with RA may be related to the morphological formation of the arthritis.