IL-8 producing cells in patients with Behçet's disease

C. Mantas¹, H. Direskeneli², D. Öz1, S. Yavuz², T. Akoglu¹

¹Division of Hematology and Immunology, ²Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey

ABSTRACT
Objective

IL-8 is thought to be the principal chemokine responsible for neutrophil activation and tissue infiltration in patients with Behçet's disease (BD). In various studies serum levels of IL-8 were reported to be increased.

Methods
IL-8 mRNA was purified from both peripheral whole blood samples and separated lymphocytes, granulocytes and monocytes of patients with BD and compared to that from healthy (HC) and disease controls. IL-8 sequences were revealed by PCR amplification using appropriate sequence-specific primers. mRNA levels were determined semi-quantitatively using an image analyser in comparison with b-actin.

Results
Although the differences did not reach statistical significance, BD patients tended to have higher IL-8 mRNA levels compared to HC in whole blood samples (2.0 ± 1.4 vs 1.5 ± 1.2) as well as in their lymphocytes (2.7 ± 1.6 vs 1.5 ± 0.9). No differences were observed between BD and HC in monocyte or granulocyte IL-8 mRNA levels.

Conclusion
Our results suggest that the cellular source of IL-8 is diverse in BD with a possible major contribution by lymphocytes.

Key words
Behçet's disease, IL-8, mRNA.

Supported by the Turkish Scientific and Technical Council (TUBITAK: Project No: SBAG-16/10) .

Please address correspondence to: H. Direskeneli, MD, Resit Pasa Sok 36/5, Kiziltoprak, Kadiköy, Istanbul, Turkey.
E-mail: haner@marun.edu.tr

Clin Exp Rheumatol 2000; 18: 249-51.
© Copyright Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology 2000.