Abstract:
Objective: Cytokine, a small secreted protein, is secreted from one cell types to exert a particular effect
on other cell types and/or on itself. Cytokines are characterized by their redundancy in the function; they
are secreted in a cascade and can work synergistically and/or antagonistically. Cytokines have an
important role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and
psoriasis (PS). Due to their crucial roles in the immune cells’ development, differentiation and regulation;
any dysregulation in their production and/or action can lead to the development of autoimmune
diseases. The study population was composed of healthy control volunteers, SLE patients that were
diagnosed as lupus nephritis (LN) patients or non-LN patients with developed atherosclerosis (As), and
psoriasis patients that were diagnosed as psoriasis patients without arthritis (Ps) or psoriatic arthritis
patients (PsA). Methods: The current study aimed to measure and compare the levels of T helper (h)1,
Th2 and Th17 cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-17, -1β, -12, -10, -4, -2, -23, -18, -34 and -6) among Egyptian
SLE and Ps patients. In addition, the pathway and type of Th cells involved in autoimmune-mediated
tissue injury was examined. Detection of autoantibodies (ANA, anti-dsDNA, anti-sm, anti-histone, anti-
ribosomal, APLA and anti-Ro/SSA) was performed to find if there is a relation between disease
development and their presence. Results: Detection of autoantibodies and complement proteins were beneficial in the diagnosis of SLE and psoriasis. ANA and anti-dsDNA autoantibodies were a good
marker for the diagnosis of SLE and monitoring disease activity; however, other autoantibodies like
APLA, anti-sm, anti-histone and anti-ribosomal can be used to indicate the disease activity. Conclusions:
Cytokines can be used to determine the disease activity and autoimmune-mediated tissue injured in both
SLE and psoriasis. Where, IL-17 recorded the highest level in LN and PsA patients; while the highest
levels of IL-34, -23 and -6 were recorded in PsA patients and IL-1β was a characteristic cytokine in As
patients.
