Title:Interleukin (IL)-23, IL-31, and IL-33 Play a Role in the Course of Autoimmune
Endocrine Diseases
Volume: 24
Issue: 5
Author(s): Szymon Janyga*, Dariusz Kajdaniuk, Zenon Czuba, Monika Ogrodowczyk-Bobik, Agata Urbanek, Beata Kos-Kudła and Bogdan Marek*
Affiliation:
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Regional Specialist Hospital No 3, Rybnik, Poland
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Regional Specialist Hospital No 3, Rybnik, Poland
- Department of Pathophysiology, Chair of Pathophysiology and Endocrinology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
Keywords:
IL-23, IL-31, IL-33, autoimmune thyroid disease, autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome, Addison’s disease, Th17 cells, Treg cells.
Abstract:
Background: Interleukins (IL)-23, 31, and 33 are involved in the regulation of T helper
17 (Th17)/regulatory T (Treg) cells balance. The role of IL-23, 31 and 33 in non-endocrine autoimmune
diseases has been confirmed. Data on the involvement of these cytokines in endocrine
autoimmune diseases are limited.
Objective: This study aimed to determine the involvement of cytokines regulating the T helper 17
(Th17)/regulatory T (Treg) cells axis in the course of autoimmune endocrine diseases.
Methods: A total number of 80 participants were divided into 4 groups: the autoimmune polyendocrine
syndrome (APS) group consisting of APS type 2 (APS-2) and type 3 (APS-3) subgroups,
the Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) group, the Graves’ disease (GD) group and the control (C) group.
Fifteen cytokines related to Th17 and Treg lymphocytes were determined in the serum of all participants.
Results: Higher levels of IL-23 and IL-31 were found in the APS, GD, and HT groups compared
to the C group. Higher levels of IL-23 and IL-31 were also observed in the APS-2 group, in contrast
to the APS-3 group. Correlation analysis of variables in the groups showed a statistically significant
correlation between the cytokines IL-23, IL-31, and IL-33 in the APS and APS-2 groups, but
no correlation in the APS-3 and C groups.
Conclusion: IL-23 and IL-31 are independent factors in the course of HT, GD, and APS-2, in
contrast to APS-3. The positive correlation between IL-23 and IL-31, IL-23 and IL-33, and between
IL-31 and IL-33 in the APS, APS-2 groups, but the lack of correlation in the APS-3 and C
groups may further suggest the involvement of these cytokines in the course of Addison's disease.