From the Research
Relation between IL-1β, IL-18, and Systemic Vasculitis
- High levels of Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) have been observed in patients with systemic vasculitis, particularly in those with active disease 1, 2.
- IL-1β production by human polymorphonuclear leucocytes can be stimulated by anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA), which are present in patients with systemic vasculitis 3.
- Serum concentrations of IL-1β were significantly higher in patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia associated with hepatitis C infection, a type of systemic vasculitis, compared to controls 2.
- However, not all studies have found a significant association between IL-1β levels and systemic vasculitis. For example, one study found no significant difference in IL-1β levels between patients with systemic sclerosis and healthy controls 4.
- Interleukin-18 (IL-18) levels have also been studied in the context of systemic vasculitis. One study found that serum IL-18 concentrations were significantly higher in patients with systemic sclerosis, a disease characterized by fibrosis and vascular dysfunction, compared to healthy controls 4.
- Another study found that IL-18 was elevated in patients with giant cell arteritis, Takayasu arteritis, and antineutrophil cytoplasm antibodies (ANCA) associated vasculitis 5.
- The relationship between IL-1β, IL-18, and systemic vasculitis is complex and may vary depending on the specific type of vasculitis and the disease stage. Further research is needed to fully understand the role of these cytokines in the pathogenesis of systemic vasculitis 1, 3, 2, 4, 5.