| objectiveThe serum level of IL-7 were analysed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The correlations among parameters were analysed by spearman and partial correlation analysis. The aims of the study were to analysized the expression level of IL-7 in healthy subjects and patients with RA and to investigate the relationship between IL-7 and clinical characteristics, such as age, sex, rheumatoid factor (RF), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), DAS28score and joint destruction level. This study revealed the effect of IL-7 on the pathogenesis of RA and provided potential applications for biological treatment and prognostic evaluation. methods1. Patients selection and group85 patients with RA diagnosed by kai luan hospital were included in the study. Of these 19 were man and 57 were women. The average age of the study population was 57 years (rang: 20-82). The average course of disease was 8.62 years. Over the same period, 80 healthy subjects were involved as the control group The average age of the control subjects (26 male, 54 female) was 54.4 years (rang: 34-75). We excluded the two groups associated with (a) hematopathy, (b) heart and cerebrovascular disease, (c) chronic liver and kidney disease, (d) thrombotic disease, (e) malignant tumor, (f) severe infective disease.The basical characteristics of case groups were matching with the ones of healthy groups.History ,sex, age,DAS28score,RF,ESR,CRP and joint destruction level of all 85 patients with RA were recorded.The level of joint destruction were analyzed according to the ACR(American college rheumatoid)'s criterion. DAS28 was used to judge the RA disease activity. According to the calculation method produced by Prevoo,According to DAS score, patients were divided into two different groups called silent group and active group.The latter was then divided into three groups.They are mildly active group,moderately active group,and severe active group.2. collection and detection5 ml fasting venous blood was obtained from all subjects and added the separating gel/coagulant in order to prevent the blood from coagulation. The specimen was centrifuged at 3000r/min for 10 min,and then drawed the top layer into the EP tube and stored into the -20℃low temperature refrigerator. All patients were conventionally detected RF and ESR.The concentrations of IL-7 were analysed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ESR was detected by Westergren.3. Statistical analysesStatistical analyses were performed with the SPSS (version 16.0) software package. The serum level of IL-7 in RA patients and normal group were compared by Student's independent t test. Data were expressed as mean±SD. The correlations among parameters were analysed by spearman. The serum level of IL-7 in different X-ray stage was compared by variance analysis.P levels of 0.05 or less were taken as indicating significant differences.results1. Comparison of IL-7 between the case and control group.t test tresult showed that the serum level of IL-7 in RA patients and healthy ones were respectively 198.38±104.75 pg/ml and 140.21±35.66 pg/ml. the level of IL-7 in patients is higher than the normal ones.The two groups were statistically significant( P<0.01).2. The relationship between IL-7 and clinical characteristicsThe correlations among these indicators were analysed by spearman and partial correlation analysis. The level of IL-7 was positively correlated to RF,CRP,ESR,DAS28 Score and functional stage, but no relationships with sex,age,duration,the number of pain joints,the number of swollen joints,anti-CCP antibody and X-ray stage.3.Comparison of IL-7 between the case and control group according on sex.The serum level of IL-7 of 19 male RA patients and 66 female ones were respectively 212.5±117.91(pg/ml)and 194.31±101.26(pg/ml);The serum level of IL-7 of 26 male healthy subjects and 54 female ones were respectively 136.76±26.24(pg/ml)and 141.88±39.54(pg/ml). t test tresult showed that there was no significant difference between sex and the IL-7 concentrations in the two groups.4. Comparison of IL-7 in different RA duration .Patients were divided into two groups according to different duration.The average concentrations of IL-7 in one group (≤2 years) and the other group(>2years) were respectively 171.53±57.12(pg/ml)and 207.19±115.21(pg/ml). t test tresult showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups.5. Comparison of IL-7 between silent group and active group according on DAS28.According to DAS score, Patients was divided into two different groups called silent group(DAS<2.6)and active group(DAS≥2.6).The latter was then divided into three groups.They are mildly active group(2.6≤DAS28<3.2),moderately active group(3.2≤DAS28≤5.1),and severe active group(DAS28>5.1). By one ANOVA analysis,there were significant difference in IL-7 level between the silent group and severe active group(P<0.05).Comparison of other groups had no statistically significant.It indicated that the serum level of IL-7 had certain significance in judging disease activity.6. Comparison of IL-7 among the different stage according on joint X-ray stageThere were significant difference in IL-7 level between theⅠstage andⅣstage ,theⅡstage andⅣstage,theⅢstage andⅣstage by ANOVA analysis(P<0.05). Comparison of other groups had no statistically significant. It showed that the serum level of IL-7 had certain significance in judging severity of disease.7. Comparison of IL-7 between different group according on RF.According to the different level of RF,the patients group were divided into two groups.they were the normol group(RF<15IU/ml),the weakly positive group(15-45IU/ml),the strongly positive group(RF>45IU/ml). By ANOVA analysis,there were significant difference in IL-7 level between the normol group and the strongly positive group(P<0.05).Comparison of other groups had no statistically significant.conclusion1. The level of IL-7 is high in RA patients.IL-7 is a sensitive marker for activity of disease as it is associated withCRP,ESR and DAS28 Score.It suggested that IL-7 can be used as a sensitive indicator to monitor disease activity.2. The different X-ray stage,the different expression of IL-7. In RA,with the X-ray stage increased ,the serum level of IL-7 also increased.So, IL-7 may be a indicator to predict bone destruction in RA patients. |
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