Soluble interleukin-6 receptors in inflammatory bowel disease: relation to circulating interleukin-6. Issue 1 (January 1995)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mitsuyama, K; Toyonaga, A; Sasaki, E; Ishida, O; Ikeda, H; Tsuruta, O; Harada, K; Tateishi, H; Nishiyama, T; Tanikawa, K
• Is Part Of: Gut. Volume 36:Issue 1(1995)
• Page Start: 45
• Page End: 49
• Publication Date: 1995-01
• Subjects: Gastroenterology -- Periodicals; 616.33
• DOI: 10.1136/gut.36.1.45
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0017-5749

Abstract

Abstract : The in vivo appearance of soluble interleukin (IL)-6 receptor (sIL-6R) in serum from patients with inflammatory bowel disease was examined using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The serum sIL-6R concentrations in patients with active disease (ulcerative colitis, 148.4 (5.1); Crohn's disease, 142.3 (9.3) ng/ml; mean (SEM)) were significantly raised compared with those in patients with inactive disease (ulcerative colitis, 116.2 (7.2); Crohn's disease, 114.3 (7.1) ng/ml), some other type of colitis (104.8 (11.6) ng/ml), or in normal subjects (107.3 (2.4) ng/ml). These differences were also seen in paired samples examined during both active and inactive phases. Additionally, serum sIL-6R and IL-6 concentrations correlated significantly with C-reactive protein levels in both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease patients (r = 0.23 and 0.56, respectively; p < 0.05 for both). Furthermore, gel filtration analysis of serum from these patients showed two major peaks of immunoreactive IL-6-one peak corresponding to free IL-6 and another peak to sIL-6R-bound IL-6-this was further confirmed by a luminescence sandwich ELISA. These results, together with its in vitro effects, indicate that natural sIL-6R may function as a powerful enhancer of the IL-6-dependent immune processes observed in inflammatory bowel disease.