Serum Th1, Th2 and Th17 cytokine profiles and alpha-enolase levels in recurrent aphthous stomatitis.

BACKGROUND: All aspects of aetiopathogenesis of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) have not been elucidated. RAS and Behçet's disease (BD) have clinical and immunological characteristics in common. Although T17 cytokines and alpha-enolase have been shown to play effective roles in BD and many other autoinflammatory diseases recently, their roles in RAS have not been studied extensively. In the present study, we investigated levels of several Th1, Th2 and Th17 pathways related cytokines and alpha-enolase to elucidate pathogenesis of RAS and to obtain data about possible treatment alternatives for the condition.

METHODS: Serum interleukin-1, interleukin-13, interleukin-17, interleukin-18, interferon gamma and alpha-enolase levels in 24 patients with RAS, 30 patients with BD and 20 healthy controls were measured.

RESULTS: Serum interleukin-1, interleukin-13, interleukin-17, interleukin-18, interferon gamma and alpha-enolase levels were higher in patients with RAS and patients with BD than in healthy controls (P < 0.005).

CONCLUSION: Like Th1 and Th2 cells, Th17 cells were found to be effective in pathogenesis of RAS. In addition, alpha-enolase, the levels of which were high, may play an important role in etio-pathogenesis of RAS. Further studies to be designed in the light of these findings are required to shed light on pathogenesis and treatment of the condition.