Spondyloarthropathy and rheumatoid arthritis: two different diseases, a similar cytokine network

The reasons for the phenotypic differences between spondyloarthritis (SpA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are still unclear. Slight divergences in the cytokine networks might contribute to this and may be the key to new treatment approaches.

The main goal of this work was to compare serum and synovial cytokines and chemokines in established SpA and RA patients.

IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12 (p70), IL-17A, IL-18, IL-21, IL-22, IL-23, IFN-γ, MCP-1, MIP-1α, OPG, sRANKL, TGF-β, TNF, APRIL and BAFF levels were measured in SpA (n=8) serum and compared with RA (n=10) and controls (n=24). Synovial fluid (SF) from SpA (n=8), RA (n=12) and osteoarthritis (OA) (n=10) patients were also analyzed.

No significant differences were found between SpA and RA, with the exception of higher levels of IL-21 in the SF of RA patients.

Our results suggest that although SpA and RA are chronic inflammatory diseases with different clinical manifestations, both share a similar cytokine profile, including Th17-related cytokines.

Affiliations

1. Rheumatology Research Unit, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
   • R A Moura
   • , R Cascão
   • , I Perpétuo
   • , H Canhão
   • , E Vieira de Sousa
   • , A F Mourão
   • , A M Rodrigues
   • , J Polido-Pereira
   •  & J E Fonseca
2. Rheumatology Dept., Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Norte, EPE, Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisbon, Portugal
   • H Canhão
   • , E Vieira de Sousa
   • , A M Rodrigues
   • , J Polido-Pereira
   • , J A Pereira da Silva
   •  & J E Fonseca
3. Rheumatology Dept., Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, EPE, Hospital Egas Moniz, Lisbon, Portugal
   • A F Mourão
4. Microvascular Biology and Inflammation Unit, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
   • H S Rosário
5. Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, Autoimmunity Group, Coimbra, Portugal
   • M M Souto-Carneiro
6. Cellular Immunology Unit, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
   • L Graca
7. Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
   • L Graca

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to L Graca or J E Fonseca.

R A Moura, R Cascão contributed equally to this work.

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