TNF‑α and soluble forms of TNF receptors 1 and 2 in the serum of patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis

Abstract

IntroductIon Soluble forms of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) membrane receptors 1 and 2 (sTNFR1 and sTNFR2) are present in body fluids. Their higher concentrations are observed in a number of diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 are capable of binding TNF-α, acting as an inhibitor that competes with a membrane receptor. The results of the available studies on sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 concentrations in IBDs and their association with disease activity are ambiguous.objectIves The aim of the study was to assess sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 concentrations and their correlation with disease activity in patients with IBD.PAtIents And methods Plasma levels of TNF-α, sTNFR1, and sTNFR2 were measured in 55 consecutive patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), 50 subjects with Crohn's disease (CD), and 41 healthy controls. We assessed the associations of those markers with other inflammatory markers, disease activity and location, type of treatment, and complications.results Positive correlations were observed between CD activity and sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 levels (r = 0.42 for both, P <0.01) as well as between UC activity and sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 levels (r = 0.63, P <0.0001; r = 0.47, P <0.001; respectively). TNF-α levels correlated only with CD activity (r = 0.29, P <0.05). In patients with nonactive UC, higher sTNFR2 levels were observed compared with controls. In patients with CD, higher TNF-α and sTNFR2 levels were demonstrated in patients who developed complications.conclusIons sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 are more sensitive inflammatory markers than TNF-α in the assessment of disease activity in patients with CD and UC. Higher sTNFR2 levels are observed in patients with CD and complications.

Relationship between vitamin D and inflammatory markers in older individuals

“…To overcome this specific issue, we also tested the relationship between vitamin D and soluble TNF-α receptors, sTNFR1 and sTNFR2, that have been shown to be more sensitive inflammatory markers than TNF-α in the assessment of different inflammatory diseases (Owczarek et al 2012). However, we did not find any association between vitamin D and soluble TNF-alpha receptors suggesting that vitamin D might not affect the TNF-α system.…”

Tumour Necrosis Factor Superfamily Members in the Pathogenesis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

“…The level of TNF mRNA was upregulated in involved colonic tissue of CD patients [53] as well as in both involved and uninvolved colonic tissue of UC patients [54] compared to healthy subjects. A recent report [55] showed that elevated concentration of TNF protein that correlated with the activity of the disease was present in blood serum of CD patients while other groups [52, 56] found increased levels of TNF protein both in serum [52, 56] and in the intestinal lamina propria of both CD and UC patients as well as the intestinal submucosa of CD patients [57]. The production of TNF in the colon mucosa of UC patients was localized to lamina propria macrophages [57].…”

“…Pathogenesis of IBD is associated also with altered expression of TNF receptors since both CD and UC patients showed elevated expression of TNFR2 on colonic epithelial cells [61]. Moreover, a positive correlation was observed between CD and UC activity and serum concentration of soluble forms of TNFR1 and TNFR2 [55]. Furthermore, upregulated expression of TNFR2 (but not TNFR1) was found on intestinal lamina propria CD4 + cells as well as peripheral blood T cells of CD patients [62].…”

Rapid fecal calprotectin testing predicts mucosal healing better than C-reactive protein and serum tumor necrosis factor α in patients with ulcerative colitis

“…The importance of TNFα -driven response in IBD is underlined by the efficiency of antiTNFα biologic agents in inducing and maintaining disease remission [20]. Despite the wide use of antiTNFs for the treatment of IBD, data regarding the diagnostic and prognostic accuracy of serum TNFα levels is conflicting [21,22].…”