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Interleukin 20 (IL-20), a member of IL-10 cytokine family, is a pleiotropic cytokine promoting inflammation, angiogenesis, chemotaxis and is implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Rituxan
(rituximab) is a genetically engineered chimeric murine/human monoclonal IgG1
kappa antibody directed against the CD20 antigen. RA pathology is influenced by
Interleukin-20 serum levels as shown in this research. The rituximab therapy
was found to be favorable for either the seropositive and seronegative RA
patients.
Interleukin 20 (IL-20),
a member of IL-10 cytokine family, is a pleiotropic cytokine promoting
inflammation, angiogenesis, chemotaxis and is implicated in the pathogenesis of
rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, serum levels of IL-20 were analysed
in relation to disease activity and response to therapy in active patients with
established RA who started biologic therapy with rituximab (RTX).
IL-20 serum levels were analysed in 27 RA
patients (24 females) at baseline and after 16 weeks of treatment; and in 49
age- and sex-matched healthy individuals. RA disease activity at baseline and
after the treatment was assessed using DAS-28, CRP levels, erythrocyte
sedimentation rate (ESR), total swollen joint count (SJC) and tender joint
count (TJC). IL-20 serum concentrations were analysed by ELISA.
Baseline levels
of IL-20 were significantly higher in RA patients compared to healthy
individuals [73.54 (38.69–172.0) vs. 27.55 (15.42–72.92) pg/ml, p < 0.0024]
and decreased after 16 weeks of RTX therapy [from 73.54 (38.69–172.0) to 61.94
(31.48–103.8) pg/ml, p = 0.040]. When analysed separately according to presence
of autoantibodies, the decrease in IL-20 after RTX therapy was significant only
in seropositive (RF+ and ACPA+, N = 20) patients [from 75.11 (44.70–180.9) to
61.94 (31.48–103.8), p = 0.043], but not in seronegative patients [from 51.53
(7.25–107.8) to 63.35 (23.30–102.9), p = 0.625]. Moreover, baseline IL-20
levels significantly correlated with DAS28 (r = 0.491, p = 0.008), CRP (r =
0.507, p = 0.006), ESR (r = 0.422, p = 0.025) and SJC (r = 0.376, p = 0.049).
Circulating IL-20
levels are higher in RA patients compared to healthy individuals, correlate
with disease activity and decrease in response to RTX therapy in seropositive
patients. Based on these data, it can be speculated that IL-20 plays a role in
RA pathology and is influenced by B cell depleting therapy.
Ann Rheum Dis 2016;75: A79
Interleukin-20 serum levels correlate with disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis patients and decrease in response to rituximab treatment
L Vernerova et al.
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