Molecular Analysis of ADAMTS-1, -4, -5, and IL-17A Cytokine Relationship in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis

Abstract Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that develops due to the impaired immune response in genetically susceptible individuals, and its etiopathogenesis is not fully elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between interleukin 17 (IL-17A) cytokine, which plays a role in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis, and the inflammation-controlled matrix enzymes thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS)-1, -4, and -5 protein members. Methods: Bowel tissue samples and blood serum from 51 patients with UC and 51 healthy controls were included in this study. mRNA expression levels of the ADAMTS-1, -4, -5, and IL-17A were analyzed by RT-PCR, and immunohistochemical analyses were performed to evaluate ADAMTS-1, -4, -5, and IL-17A proteins in tissue samples. In addition, ELISA analysis determined serum levels of the ADAMTS-1, -4, -5, and IL-17A. Results: RT-qPCR results reveal that the expression of ADAMTS-1, -4, -5, and IL-17A genes in the UC tissue samples were significantly high according to the control tissue samples. Also, ADAMTS-1, -4, -5, and IL-17A proteins revealed enhanced expression pattern UC groups according to the control. Also, ADAMTS-1, -4, -5, and IL-17A protein showed cytoplasmic localization patterns in both control and UC groups. The serum levels of ADAMTS-1,-5, and IL-17A were significantly higher in UC samples than in the control group. Conclusions: We observed a positive correlation between the ADAMTS-1, -5 and IL17A cytokine expression in UC samples. These results provide a new understanding of controlling crucial ADAMTS family protein members by IL-17A cytokines with UC.