Levels of Interleukin 33 and Interleukin 27 in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis Egyptian patients

Background: Cytokines are important mediators of immune functions in humans and animals. IL-27, an IL-12 family cytokine, exerts a critical role in immune regulation in the context of infection and autoimmunity. IL-33, a newly foundIL-1 family cytokine is involved in joint inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). So, we aimed to investigate the immunopathological roles of IL-27 and IL-33 in serum and synovial fluid (SF) of RA versus osteoarthritis (OA) patients. Patients& Methods: This study was conducted on a total number of 69 individuals, 31 ofthem were RA (22 females, 9 males) and 23 patients were OA (15females, 8 males), and 15 control blood donors (10 females, 5 males).All subjects were evaluated bymeasuring CBC, ESR, high-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP), RF, IL-27 and IL33 in the bloodwith measurement of hsCRP, RF, IL-27 and IL-33 in the SF of 20 RA and 18 OA patients. Results: The mean WBCs,ESR,serum CRPand RF (RF-IgM) in addition to thedetection percentages of both serum IL-27 and IL-33 were significantly higher in RA than OA and control groups, also,the mean of both SF CRP and RF,as well as the detection percentages ofboth SF IL-27 and IL-33were significantly higher in RA than OA patients. While, there was no significant difference between serum and SF CRP, RF, IL-27 or IL-33 in RA andOA groups.In RA group, bothserum IL-27and IL-33 showed significantly positive correlations withDAS28 while the former has also with CRP and the later has also with serum RF. Conclusion:-IL-33 and IL-27 played an important proinflammatory role in the pathogenesis of RA. Considering their correlation with disease activity, they may become potentialtherapeutic targets for RA.