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Increased levels of IL-17A in patients with fibromyalgia
A.P. Pernambuco, L.P.L. Schetino, C.C. Alvim, C.M. Murad, R.S. Viana, L.S.C. Carvalho, D.Á. Reis
CER6417
2013 Vol.31, N°6 ,Suppl.79
PI 0060, PF 0063
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PMID: 24021410 [PubMed]
Received: 05/03/2013
Accepted : 01/07/2013
In Press: 10/09/2013
Published: 16/12/2013
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the plasma levels of IL-17A in fibromyalgia patients, and to look for any correlations between this data and the concentrations of some pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines.
METHODS:
We performed a study including 58 fibromyalgia patients and 39 healthy women matched for age and body mass index. The plasma levels of IL-17A and other pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines were measured by using the technique of cytometric bead array (CBA). The analysis of differences between groups was performed using Mann-Whitney test and the analysis of the correlations by Spearman`s correlation test.
RESULTS:
The analyses showed that fibromyalgia patients present increased levels of IL-17A. They also revealed that plasma concentrations of IL17A positively correlate with levels of IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10, TNF and IFNγ.
CONCLUSIONS:
As far as we are aware, this is the first study to demonstrate increased levels of IL17A in fibromyalgia patients. The positive correlation between the levels of IL-17A and of other cytokines strengthens the hypothesis of the involvement of inflammatory mechanisms in the development of this syndrome.