THE DETERMINATION OF IMMUNOREGULATOR GENE EXPRESSION LEVELS IN BEHCET'S PATIENTS

Abstract

Behcet's disease is an idiopathic, chronic, and inflammatory recurrent disease characterized by episodic panuveitis, vasculitis of the arteries and veins, and endothelial dysfunction. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression profiles of the inflammatory cytokines IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-6, TNF-alpha, Hsp60, and TLR4 in Behcet's disease and to compare the effects of cyclosporine (n = 16) and colchicine (n = 24) administration on the expression of these inflammatory cytokines. Blood samples were obtained from 40 unrelated patients with Behcet's disease being treated with cyclosporine or colchicine and 30 healthy controls. The expression levels of IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-6, TNF-alpha, Hsp60, and TLR4 were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR.). There was a statistically significant decrease in expression levels of IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TLR4 in patients with Behcet's disease compared to levels in the healthy controls (p < 0.05). No statistical differences were found in cytokine expression levels between patients using cyclosporine and colchicine (p > 0.05). Changes in expression levels of inflammatory cytokines may suggest an association with the etiology or recurrence of Behcet's disease.