Expression of IL-2 and IL-11 and its significance in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression of IL-2 and IL-11 and its significance in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS: A total of 48 active AS patients in our hospital and 40 normal control subjects were selected in our study. Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI), Bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index (BASFI), Bath ankylosing spondylitis metrology index (BASMI), ESR and CRP expression levels were compared before treatment, 12 h after treatment and 24 h after treatment. IL-2 and IL-11 expression were also compared between these two groups. RESULTS: The BASDAI score, BASFI score and BASMI score of the AS patients before treatment significantly decreased compared with those 12 weeks and 24 weeks after treatment (P<0.05). ESR and CRP levels of the AS patients 12 weeks and 24 weeks after treatment significantly decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05). Difference was significant in serum IL-2 and IL-11 levels between 12 weeks and 24 weeks after treatment and before treatment (P<0.05). And no statistically significance was observed for serum IL-2 and IL-11 levels between normal control group and those of patients in AS group 24 weeks after treatment (P>0.05). Pearson's linear-correlation analysis showed that serum IL-2 level had a positive correlation with BASDAI, BASFI, BASMI, ESR and CRP (r=0.661,0.547,0.474,0.362,0.416, P<0.05) and serum IL-11 level had a negative correlation with BASDAI, BASFI, BASMI, ESR and CRP (r=-0.629, -0.412, -0.422, -0.387, -0.408, -0.315, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Serum levels of IL-2 in active AS patients significantly increase and will decrease after treatment. However, serum levels of IL-11 significantly decrease and will increase after treatment, which indicates that serum IL-2 has a positive correlation with the degree of AS and serum IL-11 has a negative correlation with the degree of AS, both of which are correlated closely with the onset of AS.