Investigating the potential correlation between vitamin D with rheumatoid factor, anticyclic citrullinated peptides antibody, and interleukin-12 levels in rheumatoid arthritis women in Erbil, Iraq

Abstract

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder involving the synovial joints of humans. Recent research has demonstrated that vitamin D (VD3) can influence a person’s susceptibility to RA, and a proinflammatory mediator affects the pathogenesis of RA. Objectives: This work aimed to investigate the correlation of VD3 with autoantibodies and interleukin-12 (IL-12) in RA patients. Materials and Methods: Eighty women were included in this case–control study, 60 confirmed RA and 20 healthy controls (HC) of the age range 29–71 years. The sera of study subjects were examined for anticyclic citrullinated peptides (anti-CCP), vitamin D3, and IL-12 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Rheumatoid factor (RF-IgG) was tested by latex agglutination technique. Results: The present findings revealed a significantly high concentration of anti-CCP, RF-IgG, and IL-12 in RA patients in comparison to HC. The anti-CCP expressed high sensitivity and specificity at 80% and 100% compared to RF-IgG at 76.6% and 90%, respectively. Both RA patients and HC groups showed lower levels of VD3 with a nonsignificant difference, 50% of RA patients and 55% of the HC had vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/mL). In RA patients, negative associations were observed between VD3 and anti-CCP and IL-12 levels. In contrast, a positive correlation was observed between anti-CCP and IL-12 in RA women. Conclusion: Anti-CCP had a better diagnostic value than RF. Low vitamin D is prevalent in RA patients and HC. Also, IL-12 may possess a vital role in RA’s pathophysiology and inflammatory activity, along with IL-12 inhibition may be beneficial in treating this disease.