Simultaneous evaluation of the circulating levels of both Th1 and Th2 chemokines in patients with autoimmune Addison's disease.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Chemokines play a key role in the recruitment of the immune cells into the autoimmune process. Thus, the simultaneous evaluation of circulating levels of Th1-related chemokines, such as CX chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10) and macrophage inflammatory proteins 1α (CCL3/MIP-1α), and Th2-related chemokines, such as macrophage inflammatory proteins 1 ß (CCL4/MIP-1ß) could be useful in the approach to some autoimmune diseases, including autoimmune Addison's disease (AAD). AIM: To evaluate plasmatic levels of MIP-1α, MIP-1ß, CXCL10 and adrenocortical antibodies in patients with AAD under treatment with corticosteroids. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twelve women and 5 men (group 1) were divided in 2 subgroups 9 subjects with isolated AAD (group 1a) and 8 with AAD associated with chronic autoimmune thyroiditis (group 1b). MIP-1α, MIP- 1ß and CXCL10 were evaluated in the serum of all patients and in 20 healthy controls, using a system for microarray suspension. RESULTS: The levels of MIP-1α, MIP-1ß and CXCL10 resulted significantly increased vs controls (p<0.001). An inverse significant correlation between the serum levels of MIP- 1ß and the duration of the disease was observed. CONCLUSION: High levels of MIP-1α and MIP-1ß associated with increased levels of CXCL10 in AAD seem to indicate a role of these chemokines in the autoimmune pathology of adrenal gland through the recruitment in loco of Th1 and Th2 cells. The simultaneous measurement of Th1-related chemokines (CXCL10 and MIP-1α) and of Th2-related chemokine MIP-1ß in the serum of patients with AAD would sustain a novel preliminary hypothesis on the immune microenvironment of chronic autoimmune inflammation within adrenal glands.