α₉β₁ integrin & its ligands as new potential biomarkers in FMF

Background & objectives Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) manifests as a hereditary condition characterized by repeated bouts of fever, abdominal, chest, and joint discomfort, and swelling. Colchicine is the most common form of treatment, but it does not eliminate the disease. The underlying causes of the inflammatory mechanism are still not fully known. Methods A total of 20 healthy controls, 16 individuals with FMF in the attack period, and 14 in the remission period participated in the study. ITGA9, ITGB1, OPN, TNC, VEGF, VCAM-1, TGM2, TSP-1, Emilin-1, and vWF levels were measured by ELISA by obtaining serum from blood samples of individuals. In addition, gene expressions of α9β1 (ITGA9, ITGB1) and its best known ligands (TNC, SPP1) were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Results The findings of this study showed that serum levels of α9β1 and its ligands were higher in individuals with FMF in the attack period than in the healthy controls and the FMF group in the remission period (P<0.05). The marker levels of the healthy group were also higher than those in the remission period (p<0.05). In addition, when the gene expressions were compared between the healthy controls and FMF group, no significant difference was found for ITGA9, ITGB1, TNC, and SPP1 genes. Interpretation & conclusions The function of α9β1 and its ligands in FMF disease was investigated for the first time in this study as per our knowledge. Serum levels of these biomarkers may help identify potential new targets for FMF disease diagnosis and treatment approaches.