Effect of in vitro and in vivo anakinra on cytokines production in Schnitzler syndrome

PLoS One. 2013;8(3):e59327. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0059327. Epub 2013 Mar 19.

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cytokines / metabolism*
  • DNA Primers / genetics
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Humans
  • Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein / pharmacology*
  • Interleukin-1beta / metabolism
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / metabolism*
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Schnitzler Syndrome / drug therapy*
  • Schnitzler Syndrome / metabolism*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • DNA Primers
  • Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Interleukin-6
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Grants and funding

Swedish Orphan Biovitrum (SOBI) provided anakinra for the experiments and grants for cytokine dosage. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.