INTERLEUKIN-6 (IL-6) IN PATIENTS WITH BEHCETS-DISEASE

We have examined the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in plasma and supe rnatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients wi th Behcet's disease and healthy controls using a sensitive enzyme-link ed immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Plasma IL-6 level was not detected in any subjects. The IL-6 concentrations in culture supernatants of patie nts with active Behcet's disease were significantly high compared with patients with inactive disease and healthy controls. Moreover, we inv estigated IL-6 gene expression in cultured PBMC from patients with Beh cet's disease. IL-6 gene expression was enhanced in active patients co mpared with inactive patients. These results show that IL-6 may play a role in the pathogenesis of Behcet's disease.