Macrophage inflammatory protein-1α: A link between innate immunity and familial mediterranean fever?

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between chemokines and the inflammation in Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF). Forty-nine patients with FMF (41 in remission and 8 in acute attack period) and 20 healthy controls were included in the study. Serum levels of macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α) were assessed in the patients and the controls, along with other parameters of disease activity, i.e., fibrinogen, C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Serum MIP-1α levels of the patients with FMF in acute attack period were significantly higher than the patients in remission and healthy controls (p = 0.02 and p = 0.038, respectively). MIP-1α levels were weakly correlated with CRP (r = 0.32, p = 0.032) levels. MIP-1α may have a role in the pathogenesis of FMF attacks. MIP-1α and other chemokines may constitute a link between the innate immune system and FMF.