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Abstract: Background: Immune dysregulation and gut dysbiosis are increasingly implicated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but compartment-specific intestinal cytokine profiles remain poorly defined. Aim: To characterize stool cytokine profiles and pro-/anti-inflammatory balance in children with ASD across development. Methods: We analyzed stool samples from 283 children (109 controls, 104 mild ASD, 70 severe ASD; age 0.9–21.5 years) recruited at a tertiary centre. Nine cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17, TNF-α) were measured using a Luminex multi-plex assay; IL-15 was excluded due to >70% missing values. Group comparisons used Mann–Whitney U tests, with age stratification at the cohort median (≤9.5 vs. >9.5 years). A composite pro-/anti-inflammatory ratio (IL-1α + IL-1β + IL-6 + IL-8 + IL-17 + TNF-α + IFN-γ divided by IL-4 + IL-10) was calculated. Results: In the overall cohort, stool IL-8 and IL-4 were significantly decreased in ASD versus controls (IL-8: median 0.36 vs. 0.49 ng/L, p = 0.0041; IL-4: 0.28 vs. 0.30 ng/L, p = 0.0316), with a graded reduction from controls to mild and severe ASD. Age-stratified analysis revealed that IL-8 reduction was confined to younger children (≤9.5 years; p = 0.0025) and absent in older children, while IL-1β was significantly reduced in younger ASD children and tended to reverse in older ASD children. The pro-/anti-inflammatory ratio was markedly elevated in severe ASD (median 491 vs. 209 in controls; p = 0.059), particularly in older children. Stool IL-8 and IL-1β correlated inversely with CARS scores within the ASD group. Conclusions: Children with ASD show decreased stool IL-8 and IL-4 and a shift toward a pro-inflammatory cytokine balance, with the strongest alterations during early childhood. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis of a developmental window of intestinal immune dysregulation in ASD, with stool IL-8 as the primary FDR-corrected finding. The present cross-sectional data do not establish causality and independent replication is required before clinical conclusions are drawn.
Keywords: autism spectrum disorder, cytokines, stool biomarkers, IL-8, IL-4, interleukin, gut–immune axis, CARS, developmental immunology
Published in DiRROS: 06.08.2026; Views: 63; Downloads: 45
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Abstract: Introduction: Acne vulgaris (AV) is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis predominantly affecting adolescents and young adults. Oxidative and nitrosative stress, marked by elevated nitric oxide (NO) and interleukin (IL)-1α, contributes to AV pathogenesis. Glutathione, a key antioxidant, may attenuate oxidative and nitrosative stress and modulate inflammatory pathways. This study investigates the effectiveness of oral glutathione supplementation on serum NO and IL-1α concentrations, and clinical improvement in mild to moderate AV patients. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted involving 40 subjects diagnosed with mild to moderate AV. Participants were randomized to receive either 500 mg oral glutathione (n = 22) or placebo (n = 18) once daily for 4 weeks. Clinical severity of AV was assessed utilizing the Lehmann criteria. Serum levels of NO and IL-1α were measured at baseline and week 4. Results: At week 4, reductions in serum NO and IL-1α concentrations were observed in the glutathione group; however, these changes did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05). Clinical improvement occurred in seven subjects (31.8%) in the glutathione group, with a reduction from moderate to mild severity. No adverse reactions were reported. Conclusions: Oral glutathione supplementation demonstrated a non-significant trend toward reducing oxidative and nitrosative stress markers and improving mild to moderate AV. Further studies are recommended to validate these findings.
Keywords: acne vulgaris, oxidative stress, nitric oxide, glutathione, interleukin-1α
Published in DiRROS: 15.06.2026; Views: 236; Downloads: 190
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Keywords: phase I clinical trial, phIL12 plasmid, interleukin-12, gene electrotransfer, basal cell carcinoma
Published in DiRROS: 13.04.2026; Views: 328; Downloads: 318
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Abstract: Atherosclerosis is a progressive arterial disease characterized by chronic inflammation, with interleukin-27 (IL-27) implicated as both a pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine. This prospective cohort study evaluated association of circulating IL-27 levels in peripheral artery disease patients undergoing elective endovascular revascularization, with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and major adverse limb events (MALE) over a median follow-up of 311 days. Elevated IL-27 levels were significantly associated with increased risk of MACE and MALE in unadjusted analyses. After adjusting for established cardiovascular and PAD risk factors, IL-27 remained an independent predictor of MACE (HR 2.95; p = 0.039), but not MALE. These findings indicate that elevated IL-27 levels are associated with unfavourable long-term prognosis.
Keywords: peripheral artery disease, interleukin-27, endovascular revascularization, major adverse cardiovascular events, major adverse limb events
Published in DiRROS: 06.03.2026; Views: 429; Downloads: 306
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Abstract: Background: Global healthcare disparities, stemming from organizational diferences in healthcare systems, lead to variable availability and funding, resulting in a gap between recommended and implemented practices for interleukin (IL)-1-mediated autoinfammatory diseases. We aimed to assess diagnostic, treatment and follow-up options for these diseases in Central and Eastern European countries, comparing them with the 2021 recommendations of the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR)/American College of Rheumatology (ACR). Methods: In 2023, a structured collaborative efort was organized with representatives from 10 Central and Eastern European countries to address autoinfammatory diseases. The discussion focused on potential strategies to achieve the goals mentioned above. Results: Almost all the participating countries have specialized centers for the diagnosis and treatment of autoinfammatory diseases and the care is provided either by rheumatologists and/or clinical immunologists. Genetic testing is available in all countries, but there is variation in the types of tests ofered. Massive parallel sequencing panels for autoinfammatory diseases are available in all countries, with waiting periods for results ranging from 3 to 6 months in most cases. The availability of disease-specifc laboratory assessments, such as S100 proteins, is limited. IL-1 inhibitors are available in all countries, but there are diferences in practices regarding the licensing and reimbursement of anakinra and canakinumab based on specifc indications or diagnoses. The age at which the transition process begins varies, but in most countries, it typically starts around the age of 18 or beyond and in majority of the participating countries there is no structured transition program. Conclusions: Adherence to the 2021 EULAR/ACR recommendations for IL-1-mediated autoinfammatory diseases is achievable in Central and Eastern European countries. Determining the prevalence and incidence of these diseases in this region remains a persistent challenge for future research eforts, with the overarching goal of identifying new patients with autoinfammatory diseases.
Keywords: autoinfammatory diseases, interleukin-1 mediated diseases, diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, patientreported outcomes, transition
Published in DiRROS: 23.02.2026; Views: 540; Downloads: 294
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