Title:Assessment of Interleukin 17 in Egyptian Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Patients as a Biomarker in Disease Activity
Volume: 20
Issue: 5
Author(s): Mervat Behiry, Mary Wadie, Nagwa Abdelghaffar Mohamed, Rania Farid and Hala Ramadan*
Affiliation:
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Kasr Alainy, Egypt
Keywords:
IL-17, SLE, SLEDAI, C3, C4, SLICC, Lupus nephritis.
Abstract:
Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic idiopathic systemic autoimmune
disorder with dysregulation of adaptive and innate immune systems. Interleukin (IL)-17
is the prototypical pro-inflammatory cytokine of T helper 17 (Th17) cells. Therefore, it contributes
to the pathogenesis of human SLE.
Aim: The aim of the research paper was the evaluation of IL-17 level as a biomarker in the SLE
cohort and its relation to disease activity and analysis of IL-17 concentration in patients with lupus
nephritis and non-lupus nephritis.
Methods: The research enrolled 45 SLE patients according to Systemic Lupus International Collaborating
Clinics Classification Criteria (SLICC), and age and sex-matched. The patients underwent
full history, clinical examination, laboratory investigation, and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) calculation.
Results: The mean age ± SD of the participants equaled 32 ± 11 years, and serum IL-17 in SLE
cases was statistically significantly high (p < 0.001). No statistically significant correlations were
reported between disease activity according to SLEDAI and IL-17. In addition, a statistically significant
positive correlation was reported between IL-17 and ESR, and a high statistically significant
negative correlation was reported between IL-17 and C3 and C4 (P < 0.001). A statistically
significant positive correlation was reported between IL-17 and 24-hour urinary proteins with a Pvalue
of 0.01.
Conclusion: SLE cases demonstrated higher levels of serum IL-17, contributing to SLE pathogenesis.
However, no statistically significant difference was reported between IL-17 and Lupus
nephritis. IL-17 and SLE activity (SLEDAI) did not correlate.
A statistically significant positive relation was reported between IL-17 and 24-hour urinary proteins.
Additionally, a high statistically significant negative correlation was reported between IL-17
and C3 and C4.
