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Context: Chronic rheumatic diseases seem to be associated with a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. The link between cytokines and lipid profile in spondyloarthritis is not well elucidated. Aims: We aimed to assess the relationship between cytokines and obesity, lipid profile and atherogenic indexes in spondyloarthritis. Methods and Material: We conducted a cross-sectional study including 45 patients with axial radiographic spondyloarthritis. For each patient, we measured the following pro-inflammatory cytokines: interleukin (IL-) 1, IL-8, IL-6, IL-17, IL-23 and tumor necrosis factor a (TNFa), and anti-inflammatory cytokines: IL-10. We also measured total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc). We calculated the following ratios: TC/HDLc, TG/HDLc, LDLc/HDLc and Log[TG/HDLc]. Statistical Analysis Used: SPSS. Results: The mean age was 46 ± 11.9 years. IL-8 levels were increased in obese patients (P = 0.003). IL-8 and IL-22 levels were significantly higher in patients with abdominal obesity (P = 0.024 and P = 0.042, respectively). IL-6 levels were lower in patients with hypercholesterolemia (P = 0.009). IL-1 levels correlated to TG (r = 0.413; P = 0.005). IL-1 and IL-6 were correlated to TG/HDLc (IL-1: r = 0.484, P = 0.001; IL-6; r = 0.700, P = 0.012) and Log[TG/HDLc] (IL-1: r = 0.354; P = 0.012; IL-6: r = 0.309, P = 0.041). IL-10 level was correlated to TC/HDLc (r = 0.333, P = 0.027) and LDLc/HDLc (r = 0.342, P = 0.023). Conclusions: IL-8 and IL-22 were higher in patients with abdominal obesity, highlighting the contribution of the adipocytes to the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The correlation between cytokines and atherogenic indexes suggests the role of these cytokines in the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases in spondyloarthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The SARS CoV-2 pandemic is a global health threat with high morbidity and mortality (1 to 4%) rates. COVID-19 is correlated with important immune disorders, including a "cytokine storm". A new therapeutic approach using the immunomodulatory drug, Anti-IL6 (tocilizimub), has been proposed to regulate it. We report here the first Tunisian experience using tocilizimub in two severe cases of COVID-19 pneumonia. The diagnosis was confirmed by chest scan tomography. Biological parameters showed a high level of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) that increased significantly during hospitalization. The patients developed hypoxia, so they received intravenously 8 mg/kg body weight tocilizumab. There was a resultant decrease in the level of IL6, with clinically good evolution. Blocking the cytokine IL-6 axis is a promising therapy for patients developing COVID-19 pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: New findings suggest that there are two distinguished stage of sepsis: early one is dominated by an inflammatory profile of cytokine and the late one by an anti-inflammatory profile of cytokine with mainly interleukin 10 (IL-10). The level of IL-10 has been suggested to be related with clinical worsening during sepsis. Our aim was to study the correlation between the level of IL-10 and SOFA score during sepsis. Methods: Septic patients were enrolled in a prospective descriptive study. Blood samples were collected at three times: hour 0 (H0), H24 and H48. H0 was the Diagnosis of sepsis time. Serum levels of IL-10, TNF and IL-6 were measured with the technique of a solid-phase, two-site chemiluminescence enzyme immunometric assay (Immulite 1000, Siemens, USA). Procalcitonin (PCT) was measured at H0, H24 and H48. SPSS 11.0 was used. Friedman test was used to compare nonparametric variables. It is statistically significant if p<0.05. Correlations between variables were determined by using the Pearson correlation analysis for normally distributed variables. Quantitative variables are expressed as median (Interquartile range). Results: Twenty six patients were included. There was an elevation of IL-6 and IL-10 during the first 24h. The mean value of IL-6 at H24 was higher than H0: respectively 114.99 pg/ml [10.32-50.35] and 117.13 [21.7-118.2] but not statistically significant (p=0.6). The mean value of IL-10 at H24 was higher than H0 respectively: 30.75 [5-21.85] and 59.28 [13.8-39] but not statistically significant (p=0.11). At 48 hours, IL-6 and IL-10 were decreased respectively 22.9 [15.8-28.4] and 8.76 [4.35-12.55]. P was not significant. There was no significant change of TNF level at different times. PCT levels at H0, H24 and H48 were respectively: 2.1 [0.2-4.1], 0.7 [0.24-0.7] and 6.16 [0.05-14.9]. P was not significant (p=0.3). There was a correlation between the level of IL-10 and SOFA score at H0 (R=0.8/p=0.039) but it wasn't a correlation between TNF, IL-6 and proclacitonine with SOFA score. Conclusions: Level of IL-10, mainly at H0, is correlated with prognosis during sepsis. Therefore, these cytokines might be a new tools for management of this pathology. However, further studies are needed to confirm our results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was undertaken to investigate the association between Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection and polymorphisms of tumour necrosis factor alpha TNF-α − 308 G > A, TNF-α − 238 G > A and TNF RII VNTR (p75) gene promoter in a Tunisian population. Blood samples were collected from 100 Tunisian patients with HBV infection, 45 with Chronic Hepatitis (CH), 36 with Liver Cirrhosis (LC), 15 with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) and 200 healthy individuals of similar ethnicity. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes. Genotyping of the analysed polymorphisms was performed using Amplified Refractory Mutation System-Polymerase Chain Reaction (ARMS-PCR), Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) and Variable Number Tandem Repeat PCR (PCR-VNTR). The variant homozygotes − 308 GG were associated with 50% decreased risk of HBV chronic infection (GG vs AA + GA; p = 0.010; OR = 0.50; 95%CI = 0.29–0.85). However, the carriers of minor allele − 308 A have higher risk (1.5 times) to develop a chronic infection than other patients ( p = 0.027; OR = 1.46; 95%CI = 1.04–2.06). The minor allele of − 238 polymorphism was positively associated with virus resistance and the development of chronic infection ( p = 0.043; OR = 1.42; 95%CI = 1.01 1.99). The distribution of − 308, − 238 and TNF RII VNTR (p75) among the three groups differed significantly. For HCC groups, there were statistically significant differences in allele distribution in − 308, − 238 respectively in which A allele remains a risk factor for HBV evolution to HCC ( p = 0.008 and p = 0.026). Haplotype analysis revealed that TNF-α (− 308A; − 238A) was significantly associated to HBV chronic infection and moreover to disease aggravation to HCC stage. Our findings imply that variations in the genes governing the levels of constitutive and inducible TNF-α and TNF RII might be an important risk factor, which could explain the variable outcomes of HBV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]