Longitudinal study of interleukin 6, 10,12 and 17 and associations with clinical and laboratory findings in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease of unknown origin partially characterized by periods of activity and remission. The highest incidences are in female patients in the productive age, but can affect young patients (SLE) who are diagnosing patients who have closed until the age of 16. Nonspecific manifestations such as weight loss, fever, fatigue, hair loss and arthralgias are frequently observed in patients with SLE, but are not very specific, occurring also in other systemic diseases. In more specific manifestations of SLE can be found mainly arthritis, renal, skin and others. Through the examination of blood of SLE patients is possible to measure markers of antibodies, proteins and inflammation may increase according to the disease activity. T cells play an important role in protection against extracellular pathogens, but Th17 cells specific for self antigens are highly pathogenic. Among other cytokines, Th 17 produces the IL - 17 which has been implicated in many autoimmune diseases. Other interleukins have been demonstrated with a great importance in the pathogenesis of SLE, and are related to IL-17, like IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12, but this pathogenic role in SLE is still unclear. The objective of this work is to dose levels of IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 and IL-17 in patients with adult and juvenile SLE and healthy controls matched for age and compare the levels of IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 and IL17 with clinical, laboratory, disease activity and cumulative damage