Interleukin-1-beta, Interleukin-10, and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha in Chinese Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis

Abstract

Background/Purpose. To evaluate the relationship between the level of cytokines and the clinical findings in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods. The study enrolled 81 AS patients and 49 healthy adults. The serum levels of Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were determined and compared between patients and control subjects. We also assessed the correlation between the production of cytokines and clinical parameters of the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI). Results. Mean serum IL-1β level was significantly higher in AS patients than in control subjects (195.5±72.4 pg/mL vs 96.3±32.8 pg/mL; p＜0.001). Mean serum TNF-α level was also significantly higher in patients with AS than in controls (85.3±42.1 pg/mL vs 34.3±12.8 pg/mL; p=0.02). However, no significant differences were observed in levels of IL-10 between patients and controls. Furthermore, serum IL-1β and TNF-α levels in the AS patients positively correlated with the parameters in the BASDAI (p=0.007, r=0.32 and p=0.001, r=0.41, respectively). There was also a positive correlation between erythrocyte sedimentation rate and TNF-α (p=0.01; r=0.31). Conclusion. Patients with a high BASDAI have higher levels of circulating TNF-α and IL-1β than patients with a low BASDAI or healthy individuals, suggesting that proinflammatory cytokines may play an important role during active inflammation.