THE EFFECT OF AZATHIOPRINE ON SERUM LEVELS OF INTERLEUKIN-6 AND SOLUBLE INTERLEUKIN-2 RECEPTOR

Citation
A. Crilly et al., THE EFFECT OF AZATHIOPRINE ON SERUM LEVELS OF INTERLEUKIN-6 AND SOLUBLE INTERLEUKIN-2 RECEPTOR, Scandinavian journal of rheumatology, 23(2), 1994, pp. 87-91
Citations number
33
Categorie Soggetti
Rheumatology
ISSN journal
03009742
Volume
23
Issue
2
Year of publication
1994
Pages
87 - 91
Database
ISI
SICI code
0300-9742(1994)23:2<87:TEOAOS>2.0.ZU;2-T
Abstract
Cytokine pathways are central to the perpetuation of synovial inflamma tion in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Azathioprine (AZA) has disease modi fying activity in RA. This study addressed the effect of AZA on serum IL-6 and soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R) levels in RA. Over a 24 week p eriod of therapy significant clinical improvement was observed. Howeve r, serum levels of both IL-6 and soluble IL-2R levels did not signific antly change after AZA therapy. AZA therapy did not significantly alte r the peripheral blood monocytes ability to produce IL-6 in vitro, eit her in the presence or absence of LPS. The mechanism by which AZA achi eves clinical improvement in RA patients does not appear to be through IL-6 modulation or modification of synovial lymphocyte activation as assessed by serum sIL-2R levels.