Effect of Methotrexate on Serum Levels of IL-1α and IL-8 in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pathogenetic therapy of RA is a complex task,according to modern views on the development of* Dept. of Microbiology, Medical College, Al-Nahrain Univ. ** Dept. of Clinical Biochemistry, Medical College, Al-Nahrain Univ. *** Dept of Basic Science, College of Dentistry, Univ. of Baghdad. (1). autoimmune inflammation in RA, cytokineimbalance plays a great part in RA pathogenesis Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease affects many tissues and organs, butprincipally attacks flexible (synovial) joints. Methotrexate is the most commonly used disease-modifyingantirheumatic drug for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of methotrexate on serum levels of IL-1α and IL-8 inrheumatoid arthritis. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 50 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (25 patients without treatment and 25 patients are received methotraxate) and from 30 healthy age and sex matched individuals served ascontrols. Serum IL-1α and IL-8 were measured by means of enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay.RESULTS: The present results showed that serum levels of IL-1α and IL-8 were significantly higher in RA patientsthan in healthy controls (P<0.01), furthermore, level of IL-1α was significantly decrease in patientstreated with methotraxate as compared to those patients who have received no treatment (P<0. 01). On theother hand serum level of IL-8 did not showed any significant differences between patients treated withmethotraxate and those patients without treatment (P>0. 05).CONCLUSION: These finding demonstrate that methotrexate turns out to be a good inhibitor for IL-α production. Inaddition, IL-1α and IL-8 may have a significant role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, and couldbe use a