Effect of In Vitro and In Vivo Anakinra on Cytokines Production in Schnitzler Syndrome

Abstract

IL-1 receptor antagonist anakinra is usually highly efficient in Schnitzler syndrome (SS), a rare inflammatory condition associating urticaria, fever, and IgM monoclonal gammopathy. In this study, we aimed to assess lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of inflammatory cytokines by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) before and after 1 month of anakinra in patients with SS. LPS-induced production of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNFα was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with and without anakinra in vitro, and before and after 1 month (in vivo condition) of treatment in 2 patients with SS. Spontaneous production of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α by PBMCs was similar in the patients and the healthy controls and was almost undetectable. Stimulation with LPS caused a higher release of cytokines from the patients than from the healthy controls. Before in vivo anakinra start, in vitro adjunction of anakinra reduced the high LPS-induced production of IL-1β and TNFα in both patients and of IL-6 in one patient. After 1 month of treatment with anakinra, while the patients had dramatically improved, there was also a marked reduction in LPS-induced cytokines production, which was almost normalized in one patient. This study shows an abnormal LPS-induced inflammatory cytokines production in SS, which can be decreased or even normalized by in vitro and in vivo anakinra.

Complete Remission of Schnitzler Syndrome and Waldenström Macroglobulinemia under Rituximab-Cyclophosphamide-Dexamethasone

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A Review of Recent Advances Using Tocilizumab in the Treatment of Rheumatic Diseases

“…Consequently, the dysregulated or persistent production of IL-6 can lead to the development of inflammatory disorders [1]. Elevated levels of IL-6 in serum, synovial fluid, and various tissues have been correlated with disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) [2], juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) [3,4], Castleman's disease [5,6], systemic sclerosis (SSc) [7], giant cell arteritis (GCA) [8,9], adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) [10], familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) [11,12], Schnitzler's syndrome [13,14], polychondritis [15], and amyloidosis [1]. These associations suggest a pathogenetic role for IL-6 in multiple inflammatory conditions and form the basis of the rationale for the development of anti-IL-6 therapies.…”

The Inflammasomes in Autoinflammatory Diseases with Skin Involvement

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