Exploring Biomarker Profiling: CXC-10, IL-4, and IL-17 in Graves’ Associated Ophthalmopathy
Halah Saleem Jumaah, Angham Jasim Mohammed AliAbstract
Bacckground:
Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO) is a most common extrathyroidal manifestation of Graves’ disease (GD). About 25%–50% of GD patients develop GO, which is linked to inflammation and altered cytokine levels in orbital tissues.
Objective:
This study aimed to explore chemokine-10, interleukin-4 (IL-4), and interleukin-7 (IL-17) as potential biomarkers in Graves’ associated ophthalmopathy.
Materials and Methods:
A total of 150 individuals of different genders and ages who were enrolled in this study were distributed into three groups as follows: 50 GD with GO patients, 50 GD patients, and 50 healthy controls. All patients were diagnosed with GD using the TRAB test. CXC-10, IL-4, and IL-17 concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique.
Results:
All study parameters in the GO group were significantly higher than in the GD and control, with a mean concentration of CXC-10 (173.5 ± 46.2 ng/L vs. 153.5 ± 25.6 and 80.3 ± 26.1 ng/L). IL-4 levels were 462.8 ± 153.4 ng/L vs. 402.4 ± 88.8 and 218.4 ± 45.1 ng/L. Finally, IL-17 levels were 402.6 ± 104.7 ng/L, vs. 237.2 ± 83.7 and 190.8 ± 33.7 ng/L). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve shows CXC-10 (129 cutoff value, 96.0% sensitivity, 54.0% specificity, and AUC 0.80), IL-4 (303.5 cutoff value, 98.0% sensitivity, 49.0% specificity, and AUC 0.78), and IL17 (263.5 cutoff value, 86.0% sensitivity, 90.0% specificity, and AUC 0.93).
Conclusion:
GO has high levels of CXC-10, IL-4, and IL-17. Individual ROC curves for GO diagnosis prediction showed high sensitivity and specificity in all study parameters. Consistently, these parameters may act as a potential biomarker.