Plasma netrin-1 levels in Familial Mediterranean fever: A potential biomarker?

Netrins are primarily defined as being of guidance in axonal cell migration in the embryonic period. Cell migration has an important role in the occurrence of organogenesis and inflammation. In the etiopathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, there is said to be tissue destruction associated with uncontrolled activation of the immune system and uncontrolled migration of inflammatory cells to tissues. We aimed to determine whether netrin-1 has a role in the etiopathogenesis of the FMF disease. This study included 42 patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) and 44 healthy control subjects. The plasma netrin 1 levels were measured, and relationships were examined between the netrin levels and demographic data, clinical findings and laboratory test results in both groups. No significant difference was determined between the groups in respect of the plasma netrin levels. The lack of difference between the two groups in this study in respect of plasma netrin levels could suggest that netrin-1 does not have an important role in the etiopathogenesis of FMF. There is a need for further in vivo and in vitro studies to examine netrin-1 and receptors in inflammation tissue samples and in normal tissue.