Title:Cytokine Analysis in Patients with Different Stages of Thromboangiitis Obliterans
Volume: 21
Issue: 9
Author(s): Abbas Shapouri-Moghaddam, Seyed Jalil Tavakkol Afshari, Mohammad-Hadi Saeed Modaghegh, Hamid Reza Rahimi, Mahmoud Mahmoudi, Mojtaba Fayazi and Seyed Morteza Ehteshamfar*
Affiliation:
- Immunology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad,Iran
Keywords:
Cytokines, cross-sectional study, signs and symptoms, thromboangiitis obliterans, ELISA, disorder.
Abstract:
Background: Studies suggest that cytokines are involved in the development
of both inflammatory disorders and vascular diseases.
Objective: The changes in transforming growth factor β (TGFβ), interleukin 6 (IL6),
tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), and interferon γ (IFNγ) with the progression of the
thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) symptoms were investigated in this research.
Methods: This study included 80 patients with TAO, who were selected from the
Vascular and Endovascular Research Center in Alavi Hospital, from the year 2012 to
2016. They were then categorized into three groups: Mild (migratory thrombophlebitis,
cold sensitivity or Raynaud's phenomenon, and skin discoloration), moderate (chronic
ulcers, claudication, and burning pain of the feet at night), and severe (pain at rest and
spontaneous gangrene) symptoms. The serum levels of TGFβ, IL6, TNFα, and
IFNγwere determined by the ELISA method and compared among the groups.
Results: The first three predominant symptoms were pulse disorder (n = 76, 95.00%),
cold intolerance (n = 61, 76.25%), and claudication (n = 59, 73.75%). A comparison of
the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) revealed that both TGFβ and IL6 were
dysregulated as the severity of the symptoms increased from the moderate to the severe
stages; however, such changes were not significant (p > 0.05). In the multiple logistic
regression model, increased TNFα levels were seen in the presence of moderate
symptoms as compared to the severe ones (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: It could be concluded that TNFα, as part of the defining cytokineproduction
profile of T helper cells, can be significantly involved in the progression of
TAO from the moderate to the severe stages.