Relationship Between Interleukin-23 Serum Level, Disease Activity, and Different Disease Parameters in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients

Introduction: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disorder marked by the overproduction of antibodies that attack the body's tissues, especially focusing on double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) and small nuclear RNA-associated proteins like Sm, Ro, La, and nuclear RNP. The manifestations of SLE often involve the integumentary, muscular and skeletal, renal, and blood-forming systems. Research has correlated increased serum concentrations of interleukin-23 (IL-23) with the development of several autoimmune diseases.The objective of the current investigation was to evaluate the serum concentration of IL-23 in patients with SLE and to investigate its potential correlation with various clinical parameters, including disease activity.Subjects and Methods: This research investigation enrolled 50 individuals with SLE, identified according to the 2019 EULAR/ACR classification criteria, alongside a control group of 50 healthy subjects matched for age and sex. The SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) served to quantify disease activity among the SLE patients. Laboratory evaluations included ESR, anti-nuclear antibody (ANA), anti-double stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) antibody, complement components 3 and 4 (C3 and C4), and CRP. Interleukin-23 (IL-23) concentrations in serum were quantified in both the patient and control groups employing an ELISA technique.Results: The study revealed a notable elevation in serum IL-23 levels in individuals diagnosed with SLE, exhibiting a mean concentration of 82.1 ± 75 mg/dL, in contrast to the healthy control group, which presented a mean of 44.9 ± 10.6 mg/dL (P-value < 0.001).Conclusions: The levels of IL-23 are significantly higher in individuals with SLE than in those without the condition.