Levels Of Tumour Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) And Interleukin-4 (IL-4) Of T Lymphocyte In Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS)

Objective The aim of our study was to analyse the levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) of CD4+ T lymphocyte in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) that may provide new method for judgement of prognosis and therapy effect.Methods Three-color flow cytometry analysis was employed for intracellular cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γand IL-4) and surface antigens (CD3, CD8) of CD4+ T cell in the peripheral blood of AS patients.Result Decreased tendency of IFN-γwas found in AS (P=0.102). Significantly increased level of IL-4 was found in AS patients as compared to that in healthy controls (P=0.001). Significantly increased level of TNF-αwas found in AS patients (P=0.001) . Ratio of IFN-γand IL-4(Th1/Th2)was decreased. TNF-α, IFN-γand IL-4 level was positively correlated with ESR, CRP and BASDAI but had no corelation with disease course and BASFI.Conclusion The present results suggest that the level of IFN-γhas no abviously change in patients with AS. The level of TNF-αand IL-4 is high in patients with AS. We can choose IFN-γ,TNF-αand IL-4 as a potentially useful laboratory marker of progression and improvement of disease in AS.