Vol 63, No 2 (2012)
Original paper
Published online: 2012-04-27
Serum interleukin-16 and RANTES during treatment of Graves′ orbitopathy with corticosteroids and teleradiotherapy
Endokrynol Pol 2012;63(2):92-96.
Abstract
Introduction: To assess the usefulness of circulating IL-16 and RANTES measurements as markers of Graves′ orbitopathy (GO) activity
and to estimate the role of these cytokines in GO pathogenesis.
Material and methods: 42 individuals were divided into four groups: Group 1 comprised 15 euthyroid patients with clinical symptoms of GO who underwent corticosteroid therapy consisting of intravenous infusions of methylprednisolone (MP) and teleradiotherapy (TR); Group 2 comprised ten patients with hyperthyroid GD (Gtx); Group 3 comprised ten patients with GD in euthyreosis (Geu); and Group 4 comprised seven healthy volunteers age- and sex-matched to Groups 1–3. Serum samples were collected 24 hours before the first dose of MP, 24 hours after the first dose of MP, before TR, and at the end of therapy. Serum IL-16 and RANTES were determined by ELISA and TSH-Rab by RIA.
Results: Serum IL-16 levels in patients with GO were significantly elevated at the end of therapy: 346 pg/mL (257–538) compared to IL-16 values before treatment: 250 ng/mL (211–337) and to the control group. RANTES serum concentrations did not significantly differ between studied groups, and immunosuppressive treatment did not influence its level. A negative correlation between TSH-Rab and RANTES was found in all studied groups (R = –0.32, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Our data suggests that IL-16 may exert an immunoregulatory effect in Graves′ orbitopathy. Serum measurements of both IL-16 and RANTES may be clinically useful; however, establishing their place in the diagnostics and treatment monitoring of GO needs further research. (Pol J Endocrinol 2012; 63 (2): 92–96)
Material and methods: 42 individuals were divided into four groups: Group 1 comprised 15 euthyroid patients with clinical symptoms of GO who underwent corticosteroid therapy consisting of intravenous infusions of methylprednisolone (MP) and teleradiotherapy (TR); Group 2 comprised ten patients with hyperthyroid GD (Gtx); Group 3 comprised ten patients with GD in euthyreosis (Geu); and Group 4 comprised seven healthy volunteers age- and sex-matched to Groups 1–3. Serum samples were collected 24 hours before the first dose of MP, 24 hours after the first dose of MP, before TR, and at the end of therapy. Serum IL-16 and RANTES were determined by ELISA and TSH-Rab by RIA.
Results: Serum IL-16 levels in patients with GO were significantly elevated at the end of therapy: 346 pg/mL (257–538) compared to IL-16 values before treatment: 250 ng/mL (211–337) and to the control group. RANTES serum concentrations did not significantly differ between studied groups, and immunosuppressive treatment did not influence its level. A negative correlation between TSH-Rab and RANTES was found in all studied groups (R = –0.32, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Our data suggests that IL-16 may exert an immunoregulatory effect in Graves′ orbitopathy. Serum measurements of both IL-16 and RANTES may be clinically useful; however, establishing their place in the diagnostics and treatment monitoring of GO needs further research. (Pol J Endocrinol 2012; 63 (2): 92–96)
Keywords: cytokineschemokinesTSH-RabGraves’ diseaseorbitopathy
