Blood proteins predicting relapse in CD identified

Distinct patterns of blood proteins were related to short-term (e.g. high levels of circulating IL-6 and IL12RB1) and mid/long-term relapse (e.g. low circulating levels of IL-10 and HSD11B1) in Crohn’s disease (CD) patients after infliximab withdrawal. These distinct sets of biomarkers showed a higher predictive capacity of relapse than C-reactive protein or faecal calprotectin.

The level of 92 different blood proteins was assessed in CD patients in corticosteroid-free remission stopping infliximab from the STORI cohort (n=102). Patients were divided in short-term relapse (6 months), and non-relapse cohorts. Mr Nicolas Pierre (University of Liège, Belgium) presented the results [1] and updated their recently published study [2].

The risk of short-term relapse was associated with high levels of circulating IL-6 and IL12RB1, two pro-inflammatory effectors. In addition, short-term relapse was linked to both high and low circulating levels of specific proteins involved in immunoregulation. Mid/long-term relapse was related to low circulating levels of IL-10 and HSD11B1, both anti-inflammatory effectors. High levels of proteins involved in lymphocyte tolerance and low levels of cellular junction proteins were also associated with the risk of mid/long-term relapse. Low levels of proteins involved in the downstream signalling of cytokine receptors were associated with short-term relapse. In contrast, high levels of these proteins were related to mid/long-term relapse in this population. The best combination of these blood protein biomarkers could predict relapse more accurately than C-reactive protein or faecal calprotectin. Therefore, these newly identified biomarker candidates have potential to improve CD management in clinical practice.

1. Pierre N, et al. Blood proteins related to immunoregulation or cellular junctions reveal distinct biological profiles associated with the risk of short-term versus mid/long-term relapse in Crohn’s Disease patients stopping infliximab. OP12, ECCO 2021 Virtual Congress, 2-3 & 8-10 July.
2. Pierre N, et al. Gut. 2020 Oct 26;gutjnl-2020-322100.

 

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Posted on 2 July 20218 April 2024