Clinical significance of serum interleukin-32 levels in vasculo-Behçet’s disease: A cross-sectional study

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Objective: Interleukin-32 (IL-32) is a key mediator in various pathological processes, such as the activation of vascular smooth muscle cells, the progression of atherosclerosis, and the inflammation of endothelial cells. The objective of this study was to ascertain whether Behçet’s disease (BD) patients who exhibit vascular involvement have an elevation in serum levels of IL-32. Furthermore, the study aimed to explore the correlation between disease activity and IL-32 levels and in these individuals. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 42 patients diagnosed with BD and 38 healthy control participants, all matched for age and sex. The patients were further categorized into two groups according to whether they had vascular involvement. Comprehensive data were collected, including demographic information, disease activity, disease duration, and ongoing medical treatments. Serum levels of IL-32, IL-6, IL-17, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha were quantified using the Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay method. To evaluate disease activity, two tools were utilized: the Behçet’s Disease Current Activity form (BDCAF) and the Behçet’s Syndrome Activity scale (BSAS). Results: When comparing clinical features, no significant differences were observed between BD patients who had vascular involvement and those who did not have such involvement. However, vascular involvement significantly influenced the serum levels of IL-32 and TNF-alpha. Patients with BD and vascular involvement exhibited notably higher serum levels of IL-32 and TNF-alpha than healthy controls (p=0.003 and p=0.001, respectively). Furthermore, serum levels of IL-32 were significantly elevated in BD patients with vascular involvement compared to those without (p=0.008). Despite these findings, no association was identified between disease activity and serum levels of IL-32, as measured by the BDCAF and BSAS scales. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that BD patients have elevated levels of serum IL-32 and such increase may be linked to the presence of vascular involvement. This highlights a potential role for IL-32 in the functional changes associated with vascular complications in BD.