Background: Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis affecting mostly the weight bearing joints. Pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-6 and IL-15 are predominately secreted by macrophages and other cells and they are involved in up regulation of inflammatory response. IL-6 and IL-15 may induce expression of proteolytic enzymes which cause cartilage damage and in turn osteoarthritis. This study is designed to evaluate the serum levels of IL-6 and IL-15 in the patients of knee OA and their possible role in its pathogenesis.
Aim: To evaluate the role of IL-6 and IL-15 in the patients of knee osteoarthritis.
Materials and methods: The present study was conducted in the department of biochemistry in collaboration with department of orthopedics from May 2018 till July 2020. Forty patients with knee osteoarthritis in the age group of 30-60 years and forty healthy controls were enrolled for the study. After taking written consent, five mL of venous blood from the patients and controls was taken from antecubital vein in a red capped vaccutainer under aseptic conditions. Estimation of IL-6 and IL-15 were done by the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay kit (ELISA kit). The routine biochemistry tests were done on the same day by standard autoanalyzer kit method.
Results: The mean serum levels of IL-6 and IL-15 were found higher in cases as compared to the controls (p<0.001).
Conclusion: The serum levels of IL-6 and IL-15 found higher in the patients which may cause cartilage damage and in turn osteoarthritis.
