Measuring of Interleukin -22 and IL -17a Levels in Seropositive and Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Abstract

Background: “Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disease leading to joint disruption”. The
instant study designed to detect serum markers in RA that could discriminate between seropositive (SP) and
seronegative (SN) by evaluating levels of IL- 22and IL -17a in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods:
In this cross-sectional study, a total of sixty Rheumatoid arthritis (RA ) patients’ age and sex-matched with
healthy controls were involved in the present study. The serum IL- -22 and IL -17a levels were measured
using an ELISA kit. Results: The mean ±SD age in seropositive and seronegative was (37.22± 11.29 and
34.28±20.3 years, respectively), while in control group was (27.14±9.33 years). Furthermore, serum IL- 22
and IL -17a level was significantly higher in seropositive and seronegative RA patients compared to healthy
controls (P<0.001). There was no significant variation in serum IL -22 and IL -17a level according to the
seropositive and seronegative in RA patients (p>0.05), but there was a positive correlation between them
ROC test representing a highly sensitive and specific . Conclusion: The present study exhibited higher
serum IL- 22 and IL -17a levels in seropositive and seronegative in RA patients compared to healthy controls.
Therefore, IL- 22 and IL -17a can be considered as a biomarker for RA disease, with high sensitivity and
specificity but these cytokines couldn’t be used as discriminated between SP and SN in RA patients.