Micro RNA 499 gene expression and interleukin 17 in Egyptian patients with Behcet's disease

Background: High levels of interleukin 17 are expressed in active Behcet's disease (BD) patients. High miRNA-499 relative expression is known to be associated with vascular manifestations and aneurysms in BD. Aim of the work: To detect miRNA-499 relative expression and interleukin 17 serum levels in BD patients and find their association to clinical characteristics and disease activity. Patients and methods: Blood samples were obtained from 40 Egyptian BD patients and 40 matched controls. The BD current activity form (BDCAF) was estimated. Relative expression of miRNA-499 was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Serum IL-17 was also measured in by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The mean age of the patients was 34.4 +/- 10.9 years, disease duration was 8.9 +/- 0.8 years and age at onset was 25.5 +/- 7.2 years and they were 33 males and 7 females. All patients had oral ulcers, 85% had genital ulcers and 75% had ocular manifestations. The mean BDCAF was 1.54 +/- 1.78. Levels of miRNA-499 relative expression were significantly higher in BD cases versus controls (4.2 +/- 2.1 vs. 1.1 +/- 0.3 Delta Delta C-t respectively; p < 0.001). Levels of IL 17 were significantly higher in BD cases versus controls (86.9 +/- 31.2 vs. 34.7 +/- 4.4 pg/ml respectively; p < 0.001). There was a non-significant correlation between miRNA and IL 17 in patients (r = -0.06, p < 0.71). IL17 was significantly associated only with the occurrence of arthritis (p = 0.03). There was no significant association between miRNA-499 or IL-17 with the BDCAF (r = 0.22, p = 0.12 and r = -0.002, p = 0.99; respectively). Conclusion: Micro RNA-499 relative expression and IL17 levels were significantly higher in BD patients compared to the controls. (C) 2019 Egyptian Society of Rheumatic Diseases. Publishing services provided by Elsevier B.V.