Serum IL-4, IL-12, IL-13, IL-27, and IL-33 levels in active and inactive ocular Behcet's disease.

Purpose: To investigate serum levels of interleukin (IL)-12 (Th1 cytokine), IL-27 (an immunomodulatory cytokine), IL-4 (suppressor of Th1-cell growth), IL-13 (a stimulatory signal for Th2 cytokines), and IL-33 (an epithelial cell-derived cytokine) and their relations with the disease activity in Behcet's Disease (BD).

Methods: Four groups, each composed of 20 participants were enrolled in the study; active ocular BD (Group-A), ocular BD in remission (Group-B), nonocular BD in remission (Group-C) and healthy controls (Group-D). IL levels were compared between the study groups and their correlation with the disease activity parameters were analyzed.

Results: IL-13 and IL-33 were higher in Group-A. IL-27 was lower in all BD groups. Additionally, IL-13 and IL-33 levels were positively correlated with disease activity parameters.

Conclusion: These findings show Th2 dominance in the active phase of BD. Besides, decreased levels of IL-27, and presumably, its protective anti-inflammatory effect in all study groups may exert a new pathologic finding in BD.