Serum concentrations of interleukin 1beta, CXCL10, and interferon-gamma in mixed cryoglobulinemia associated with hepatitis C infection

J Rheumatol. 2010 Jan;37(1):91-7. doi: 10.3899/jrheum.090246. Epub 2009 Nov 16.

Abstract

Objective: Mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) is a systemic vasculitis of small and medium-size vessels, often associated with the hepatitis C virus. Research has shown an emerging role for chemokines and type 1 cytokines in the pathophysiology of this vasculitis. Interleukin 1 (IL-1) plays a role in initiating the cascade of immunoinflammatory responses, and levels of the interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) inducible chemokine CXCL10 have been shown to be significantly associated with the presence of active vasculitis in patients with MC. We evaluated serum levels of IL-1beta, IFN-gamma, and CXCL10 in a series of patients with hepatitis C-related MC (MC+HCV), and correlated these measurements with clinical disease features.

Methods: Serum IL-1beta, IFN-gamma, and CXCL10 were assayed in 54 patients with MC+HCV, in 54 sex- and age-matched patients with type C chronic hepatitis without cryoglobulinemia (HCV+), and in 54 controls.

Results: MC+HCV patients showed significantly higher mean IL-1beta and CXCL10 serum levels than controls (p < 0.01) or HCV+ patients (p < 0.01). CXCL10 was significantly increased in 14 cryoglobulinemic patients with active vasculitis (necrotizing vasculitis or vasculitic skin ulcers) compared to those without (p < 0.001); IL-1beta was increased in cryoglobulinemic patients with active vasculitis (p = 0.06). No differences were observed for serum IFN-gamma levels.

Conclusion: Serum levels of IL-1beta and CXCL10 were high in patients with MC+HCV. Increased CXCL10 and IL-1beta levels were associated with the presence of active vasculitis in MC+HCV patients.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Chemokine CXCL10 / blood*
  • Cryoglobulinemia / blood*
  • Cryoglobulinemia / complications
  • Cryoglobulinemia / immunology*
  • Cryoglobulinemia / virology*
  • Female
  • Hepacivirus / immunology
  • Hepatitis C* / blood
  • Hepatitis C* / immunology
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / blood*
  • Interleukin-1beta / blood*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Vasculitis / blood
  • Vasculitis / etiology
  • Vasculitis / immunology
  • Vasculitis / virology

Substances

  • Chemokine CXCL10
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Interferon-gamma