Serum antimicrobial peptides in patients with familial Mediterranean fever.

[familial mediterranean fever]

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF ) is characterized by recurrent inflammation of serosal and synovial membranes . Despite the fact that it is a genetic disease , environmental factors , including infections , are shown to be triggering factors associated with the precipitation of attacks in FMF . Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs ) are components of innate immunity which exert antimicrobial activity against many microorganisms . Human AMPs ; cathelicidin (LL 37 ) and defensins have immunomodulatory properties and are involved in the pathogenesis of many inflammatory disorders . Hence , we investigated serum AMPs in 23 newly diagnosed FMF patients . Blood samples were obtained at baseline , 6 months after initiation of colchicine and during an attack . Twenty -four healthy individuals constituted the control group . The concentrations of LL 37 , alpha-1 , beta -1 and beta -2 defensins were determined by ELISA . Serum AMPs did not change during attacks and did not correlate with acute phase reactants . However , serum LL 37 and defensins were found to be remarkably higher in FMF patients compared to healthy individuals both at baseline and 6 months after initiation of colchicine therapy which suggest that AMPs might have a role in the pathogenesis of FMF .