Journal Article Epublish 1 citation
PubMed: 38002672 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12227059
IL-6 Receptor Expression on the Surface of T Cells and Serum Soluble IL-6 Receptor Levels in Patients with Microscopic Polyangiitis and Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis.
J Clin Med 12(22)
Authors: Taejun Yoon, Sung Soo Ahn, Eunhee Ko, Jason Jungsik Song, Yong-Beom Park, Sang-Won Lee
Affiliations
- BK21 Plus Project, Department of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul 03772, Republic of Korea.
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yongin Severance Hospital, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Yongin 16995, Republic of Korea.
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Severance Hospital, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul 03772, Republic of Korea. Institute for Immunology and Immunological Diseases, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul 03772, Republic of Korea.
Abstract
We investigated the IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) expression on the surface of T cells isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) patients and measured the serum soluble IL-6R (sIL-6R) levels in these patients. Sera and PBMCs were obtained from 51 patients with MPA ( = 32) and GPA ( = 19), with 25 patients having active disease (defined as a Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score [BVAS] ≥ 5). The median age of patients was 67.0 years, and 52.9% were women. Serum IL-6 levels were significantly correlated with the BVAS (r = 0.384); however, IL-6R expression on the surface of T cells did not significantly differ based on disease activity. Meanwhile, IL-6R expression on the surface of stimulated CD4+ (median mean fluorescence intensity [MFI] 588.0 vs. 1314.8; < 0.001), CD4+CD25+ (MFI 853.3 vs. 1527.3; < 0.001), and CD4+CD45RO+ (MFI 679.5 vs. 1241.5; < 0.001) T cells was significantly reduced compared with unstimulated conditions. Conversely, patients with active disease exhibited a significantly higher median serum sIL-6R level than those with inactive disease (38.1 ng/mL vs. 34.7 ng/mL; = 0.029). These results imply that the trans-signalling IL-6 pathway may be more activated than the classical signalling pathway in patients with MPA and GPA, suggesting the therapeutic potential of targeting sIL-6R.
MeSH
Cells, Serum, Receptors, Interleukin-6, Interleukin-6, Microscopic Polyangiitis, Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis