Increased IL-1β levels are associated with an imbalance of oxidant/antioxidant status during Behcet's disease

Background: Behcet's disease is a multisystem disease. It stands at the crossroad between the autoimmunity and auto-inflammatory disorders. In this study, we sought to address a relationship that might exist between interleukin-1 beta (IL-beta) and the oxidants/antioxidants markers in Behcet's patients. Methods: Behcet's disease patients (n = 78: active stage, n = 28; inactive stage, n = 50) and 41 healthy controls have been included in our study. In this context, we investigated the plasma levels of IL-1 beta and the nitrosative/oxidative markers: nitric oxide (NO), advanced oxidative protein products (AOPP) and fatty acids peroxidation-malondialdehyde (MDA). The antioxidant system was assessed by measuring the plasma level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. The Mann-Whitney's U and Pearson's correlation tests were used for statistical analyses. Results: Our case-control study showed that patients in active stage displayed higher plasma levels of IL-1 beta, NO, AOPP and MDA versus healthy controls and patients in inactive stage. Patients in active stage showed significantly lower SOD levels related to patients in inactive stage and healthy controls respectively, whereas patients in inactive stage showed statistically insignificant SOD level versus healthy controls. Correlation studies showed a significant positive correlation between IL-1 beta and AOPP, IL-1 beta and NO, and negative correlation between IL-1 beta and SOD among Behcet's disease patients. In addition, we showed positive correlation between AOPP and NO, AOPP and MDA and negative correlation between NO and SOD, AOPP and SOD in Behcet's disease patients. Conclusion: Interestingly, our study revealed that IL-1 beta levels increased and correlated with an imbalance of oxidants/antioxidants system, especially during active stage of Behcet disease. Collectively, our study indicates a possible link between IL-1 beta production and nitrosative/oxidative markers during Behcet's disease. Exploiting this relationship might provide valuable outputs in the follow-up and prognosis of Behcet's disease with a potential therapeutic value.