Relationship of Inflammation Markers and Sirtuin Levels Disease Activity in Patients With Behcet's Disease

Behçet's disease (BD) is a systemic disease that has a long-term course with attacks, can involve many organs, and whose main pathology is vasculitis. For the first time in 1937 It was defined by Prof. Dr. Hulusi Behçet as a three-symptom complex consisting of hypopyonous uveitis along with oral and genital ulcers.

In recent years, especially as a result of developments in molecular biology, new information obtained about the structure and functions of immune system elements has revealed that the immune system plays an important role in the onset or course of the disease. Cytokines [such as IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) and Interferongama (IFN-γ)produced by Th-1 lymphocytes] that play important roles in inflammation in BD. It has been reported that the level of proinflammatory cytokines increases especially during the active period of the disease. It has been suggested that these cytokines may cause acute inflammatory tissue damage by causing neutrophil activation.

Sirtuins are known to be from the protein deacetylase and adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-ribosyl transferase protein families. Seven Sirtuin types have been identified in mammals (SIRT 1-7). Mammalian sirtuins can be affected in many physiological events such as metabolism, aging, cancer, and inflammation. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)-dependent histone deacetylase, has been reported to participate in the regulation of various biological processes such as energy balance, inflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial biogenesis.

Our aim here is to compare cytokine levels according to organ involvement, drug used and to evaluate disease progression.

Blood samples for serum for cytokines and plasma for sirtuin will be taken from patients diagnosed with Behçet's disease between the ages of 18-65 who come to the Rheumatology Polyclinic for their normal routine check-up. The obtained samples will be stored at -80 °C until the blood of all patients is collected. In the control group, blood will be taken on a voluntary basis from people of appropriate age and gender who come to the polyclinic and do not have any inflammatory disease, and from hospital staff who do not have any health problems and do not use any medication.