Regarding: IL‐1β/DNA complex elevation distinguishes autoinflammatory disorders from autoimmune and infectious diseases

Dear Editor, Recently, an article by Natsi et al. [1] in the Journal of Internal Medicine has garnered widespread attention. It investigates how elevated IL-1β/DNA complexes distinguish autoinflammatory diseases from autoimmune and infectious diseases. However, we still wish to offer some constructive comments. First, although the IL-1β/DNA complex assay shows high diagnostic utility in distinguishing autoinflammatory diseases from other acute inflammatory diseases, its complexity in tumor-related functions limits its application. IL-1β can promote tumor growth and metastasis in the tumor microenvironment through mechanisms such as angiogenesis, induction of tumor-associated fibroblasts, and amplification of immunosuppressive cells [2]. These tumor-promoting effects may affect the interpretation of test results, especially in patients with both chronic inflammation and tumors. Therefore, further research and validation are necessary to ensure the reliability and effectiveness of the IL-1β/DNA complex assay in different pathological states. Second, although the IL-1β/DNA complex assay shows high efficiency in diagnosing autoinflammatory diseases, the consideration of complications and drug interference remains a significant limitation. Coexisting diseases, such as chronic inflammatory diseases or acute complications, may affect IL-1β levels, leading to inaccurate test results [3]. Additionally, the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, immunosuppressants, and other therapeutic agents may directly or indirectly interfere with the expression and release of IL-1β [4], thus affecting the sensitivity and specificity of the assay. By conducting subgroup analyses, it is possible to better understand and correct the variation in IL-1β/DNA complex levels among different patient groups, thereby improving the accuracy and clinical applicability of the assay. This approach can help identify and mitigate the impact of complications and drug interference on test results, ensuring more reliable use of this diagnostic tool in clinical practice. This article demonstrates the significant advantages of the IL-1β/DNA complex assay in diagnosing autoinflammatory diseases, particularly in enhancing diagnostic specificity and sensitivity, providing a new tool for effectively distinguishing autoinflammatory diseases from other inflammatory diseases. This assay not only shows extensive clinical application potential in dynamically monitoring disease progression and evaluating treatment efficacy but also has important implications for the future development of medical diagnostics. This novel diagnostic method provides a foundation for the development of precision medicine. Through the application of standardized testing methods, it can enhance the reproducibility and reliability of diagnostics, advancing the standardization of medical testing. Additionally, the IL-1β/DNA complex assay can be combined with other biomarker tests to form a comprehensive diagnostic platform, enhancing the comprehensiveness and accuracy of disease diagnosis to meet the needs of complex disease diagnostics. This research outcome provides crucial support for the future development of medical diagnostics toward more precise, personalized, and integrated directions. The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.