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
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.