Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2012 Jan-Mar;25(1):281-5. doi: 10.1177/039463201202500132.
The high serum levels of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and its soluble receptors (sIL-6r and sgp130), described in the course of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), have been linked to the enhanced activity of this cytokine in this disorder. In this study, the serum concentrations of IL-6 and its soluble receptors were determined in a group of patients with HCV-related arthritis (HCVrA), a condition resembling RA in several aspects, and then compared to those found in a sample of subjects affected by RA. Twenty-one patients with HCVrA, 24 patients with RA and 20 healthy subjects (control group) were examined. Different ELISA methods were used for determination of serum concentrations of IL-6, sIL-6r and sgp130. Increased IL-6 serum levels were found in 15 (71 %) of the patients with HCVrA and in 16 (62 %) of those with RA. Eight (38 %) of the patients with HCVrA and 11 (46%) of those with RA denoted high levels of sIL-6r, while sgp130 levels were elevated in 21 (76%) of the patients with HCVrA and in 16 (69%) of those with RA. A significant difference between the median values of sIL-6r and sgp130 levels in the two groups of patients versus controls was found. A mild correlation of these parameters with RF levels was detected in the RA group. Furthermore, in HCVrA patients the serum levels of IL-6, sIL-6r and sgp130 appeared unrelated to HCV viraemia and to levels of transaminases. The enhanced serum levels of IL-6 in HCVra patients indicate an increased synthesis and hyperactivity of this cytokine in HCVrA, and the substantial similarity of the behaviour of IL-6 and its serum receptors in the two groups of patients suggests common mechanisms with RA, in which the function of I L-6 is central.
在类风湿性关节炎（RA）过程中描述的白细胞介素 6（IL-6）及其可溶性受体（sIL-6r 和 sgp130）的血清水平与这种细胞因子在这种疾病中的活性增强有关。在这项研究中，在一组丙型肝炎相关关节炎（HCVrA）患者中确定了 IL-6 及其可溶性受体的血清浓度，这种情况在几个方面与 RA 相似，然后将其与一组受 RA 影响的患者的发现进行了比较。检查了 21 名 HCVrA 患者、24 名 RA 患者和 20 名健康受试者（对照组）。使用不同的 ELISA 方法测定血清中 IL-6、sIL-6r 和 sgp130 的浓度。在 15 名（71%）HCVrA 患者和 16 名（62%）RA 患者中发现血清 IL-6 水平升高。8 名（38%）HCVrA 患者和 11 名（46%）RA 患者表示 sIL-6r 水平升高，而 sgp130 水平在 21 名（76%）HCVrA 患者和 16 名（69%）RA 患者中升高。在两组患者与对照组的中位数之间发现 sIL-6r 和 sgp130 水平有显著差异。在 RA 组中检测到这些参数与 RF 水平有轻度相关性。此外，在 HCVrA 患者中，IL-6、sIL-6r 和 sgp130 的血清水平似乎与 HCV 病毒血症和转氨酶水平无关。HCVrA 患者血清中 IL-6 水平升高表明该细胞因子在 HCVrA 中的合成和过度活跃增加，并且两组患者中 IL-6 和其血清受体的行为具有很大的相似性表明存在与 RA 相同的机制，其中 IL-6 的功能是核心。
