In vivo and in vitro IL-18 production during uveitis associated with Behçet disease: Effect of glucocorticoid therapy

• Published in: Journal francais d'ophtalmologie Vol. 38; no. 3; pp. 206 - 212
• Main Authors: Belguendouz, H., Messaoudene, D., Lahmar-Belguendouz, K., Djeraba, Z., Otmani, F., Terahi, M., Tiar, M., Hartani, D., Lahlou-Boukoffa, O.S., Touil-Boukoffa, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France Elsevier Masson SAS 01.03.2015
• Subjects: Adult; Algeria; Behcet Syndrome - drug therapy; Behcet Syndrome - immunology; Behçet disease; Biomarkers - blood; Case-Control Studies; Cytokines; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Glucocorticoids; Glucocorticoïdes; Humans; IL-18; In Vitro Techniques; Interleukin-18 - blood; Maladie de Behçet; Male; Methylprednisolone - therapeutic use; Middle Aged; Pulse Therapy, Drug; Th1; Th1 Cells - drug effects; Th1 Cells - immunology; Th2 Cells - drug effects; Th2 Cells - immunology; Uveitis; Uveitis, Anterior - drug therapy; Uveitis, Anterior - immunology; Uvéite; Algeria; Maladie de Behçet; Behçet disease; Cytokines; Glucocorticoids; Uvéite; IL-18; Glucocorticoïdes; Uveitis; Th1
• ISSN: 0181-5512; 1773-0597
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jfo.2014.10.005

Uveitis represents one of the major diagnostic criteria in Behçet's disease. It is most prevalent in the countries of the Mediterranean area, including Algeria, and along the Silk Road. Clinical features include oral and genital ulcers, ocular and skin lesions, as well as central nervous system, joint, vascular, gastrointestinal, or pulmonary manifestations. Many studies have reported that Th1 immune responses are involved in the physiopathology. We have previously studied the production of IL-12 and IFN-γ, cytokine markers in the Th1 pathway involved in Behçet's disease. In our study, we investigate in vivo and in vitro IL-18 production in Algerian patients with Behçet's disease with ocular manifestations in various stages of the disease. We examined the effect of glucocorticoids on IL-18 production during the active stage of the disease. Our results suggest that IL-18 could be a good biomarker for monitoring disease activity and its regression, demonstrating the effectiveness of treatment on the underlying immunopathologic process. L’uvéite représente un des critères diagnostiques majeurs de la maladie de Behçet, pathologie inflammatoire chronique retrouvée essentiellement sur le pourtour méditerranéen et le long de la route de la soie. Nous avons préalablement étudié la production d’IL-12 et d’IFN-γ, cytokines marqueurs de la voie Th1, au cours de l’uvéite de Behçet. Dans cette étude, nous avons analysé la production in vivo et ex vivo d’IL-18 au cours des différentes phases de la maladie. De plus, nous avons analysé l’effet de la corticothérapie sur la production de cette cytokine au cours des phases actives de la maladie. Nos résultats suggèrent que le taux sérique d’IL-18 pourrait représenter un bon marqueur biologique de l’activité de la maladie et sa régression témoignerait de l’action du traitement sur le processus immunopathologique sous-jacent.