[The application of inflammation-related cytokines in early diagnosis and disease assessment of rheumatoid arthritis].

Objective To measure the serum contents of cytokines in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and explore the clinical application value of combined detection of inflammatory cytokines in evaluating the severity of RA. Methods This study recruited 28 RA patients and 15 healthy individuals who received health checkups during the same period. The expression of inflammatory cytokines including interleukin 1β (IL-1β), IL-2, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12P70, IL-17, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon α (IFN-α), IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-10 were detected with the multiplexed microsphere-based flow cytometric immunoassay. C-reactive protein (CRP) was detected with an automatic biochemical instrument, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was measured by the Westergren method. The disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28) in the RA group was calculated, and the area under the curve (AUC) of each cytokine and RA disease activity was compared. The correlation of serum levels of inflammatory cytokines with CRP and ESR was analyzed in RA patients. Results In RA patients, the serum levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-12P70, IL-4 and IL-10 were significantly correlated with the indicator of RA disease activity DAS28-CRP, and the serum levels of IL-12P70, TNF-α and IL-4 were markedly correlated with the indicator of RA disease activity DAS28-ESR. CRP was positively correlated with IL-6 (r=0.515), IL-12P70 (r=0.530), IL-4 (r=0.539), and IL-10(r=0.434). ESR was positively correlated with IL-6 (r=0.403), IL-12P70 (r=0.475), TNF-α (r=0.497), and IL-4 (r=0.450). Compared with the normal CRP and ESR group, the abnormal CRP group showed an increase in the levels of IL-6, IL-12P70, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10, and the abnormal ESR group exhibited an elevation in the levels of IL-12P70, IL-4 and TNF-α. The expression of IL-8, IFN-α and IFN-γ was higher in the experimental group than in the control group. Conclusion Serum inflammatory cytokines detection has shed light on the early diagnosis and severity evaluation of RA and can be used as a pivotal indcator for the diagnosis of RA.