Interleukin-34 Gene Expression in the Peripheral Blood Leukocytes of Guillain-Barre Patients

Abstract

Background and Objective: Immune-mediated polyneuropathy is divided into acute and chronic categories named as Guillain Barré syndrome (GBS) and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy based on the course of the disease. Although the basic mechanism of these conditions has not been yet clarified, genes that regulate immune responses are putative contributors in their development. The aim of this study was to compare the blood expression level of IL-34 gene between patients with GBS and healthy individuals. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, blood samples were collected from 53 patients with GBS (i.e., 33 chronic patients and 20 acute patients) and 40 healthy individuals. Gene expression levels in the studied groups were measured using the real-time polymerase chain reaction technique. Finally, statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software (version 16) at a significance level of < 0.05 was. Results: The patient group consisted of 36 (67.93%) males and 17 (32.07%) females. In addition, the healthy control group included 27 (67.5%) males and 13 (32.5%) females. The results showed a significant increase in IL-34 expression in the GBS patients, compared to that in the control group. Conclusion: The findings of the present study revealed an increase in IL-34 gene expression in patients with GBS. Accordingly, it seems that IL-34 gene has an important role in the pathogenesis of this disease.

Keywords

• interleukin-34
• guillain-barre syndrome
• polyneuropathy