The Clinical Significance of Serum Interleukin-36α Levels in Patients with Gout

ABSTRACT

Background

Gout is a chronic inflammatory diseases caused by monosodium urate crystal deposition. However, the role of interleukin (IL)-36 in gout has not dbeen elucidated.

Methods

We enrolled 75 subjects, including 20 healthy controls (HC), 30 patients with acute gout attack and 25 patients in remission. Baseline data were obtained through clinical interrogation and laboratory data were obtained through tests of blood samples. Serum levels of IL-36α were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Spearman correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlation of IL-36α with other parameters. The diagnostic value of IL-36α was demonstrated using a receiver operating characteristic curve.

Results

The serum IL-36α level of gout patients in acute attack and remission stage was significantly higher than that of HC. Serum IL-36α was positively correlated with alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST). Serum amyloid A (SAA) levels positively correlated with C-reactive protein levels and erythrocyte sedimentation rates. Glutamyl transpeptidase levels positively correlated with AST and ALT levels.

Conclusion

In conclusion, serum IL-36α levels were elevated in patients with gout and correlated with the clinical markers of inflammation. Our findings suggest that IL-36α may be a novel inflammatory indicator for gout.

KEYWORDS:

• Gout
• interleukin-1 inhibitors
• interleukin-36α
• monosodium urate crystals

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author contributions

Sicen Meng: Methodology, Visualization, Formal analysis, Writing – original draft. Wubing Lu: Investigation. Zhi Li: Investigation. Yinxin Zhou: Investigation. Shanjun Shi: Investigation. Hui Zhao: Investigation. Mingcai Li: Investigation, Methodology, Writing – review & editing. Yan Li: Conceptualization, Funding acquisition, Project administration, Writing – review & editing.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Clinical Research and Application Project of Zhejiang Health Science and Technology Program [No. 2022KY1148], and Natural Science Foundation of Ningbo [No. 2022J233, No. 2021J080, No. 2021J246].