Assessment of Some Cytokine Profiles in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder marked by chronic abdominal pain, bloating, and altered bowel habits. Emerging evidence suggests a role of immune dysregulation in IBS pathogenesis, with specific cytokines potentially contributing to the inflammatory response observed in patients. This study aimed to investigate the serum levels of cytokines IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TGF-β, and TNF-α in IBS patients and healthy controls to better understand their role in IBS and to assess their potential as biomarkers. A total of 109 individuals (64 IBS patients and 45 healthy controls) aged 15–74 years participated in this study, conducted at Al- Sadr Teaching Hospital and Al-Fayhaa Teaching Hospital in Basra/Iraq from December 2023 to May 2024. Blood samples were collected from each participant, with 2 ml stored in EDTA tubes for DNA extraction and 3 ml in gel tubes for serum analysis. Cytokine levels in serum were measured using a sandwich ELISA technique. Statistical analysis was performed with Microsoft Excel 2013 and GraphPad Prism 9.2.0, using one-way ANOVA for group comparisons and Pearson correlation for variable relationships, with significance set at p<0.05. The results revealed significantly higher serum levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TGF-β, and TNF-α in IBS patients compared to controls (p<0.05). This study underscores the potential role of cytokines in IBS pathophysiology, with elevated IL-6, IL-8, TGF-β, and TNF-α levels pointing to immune dysregulation. These cytokines may serve as biomarkers for IBS and offer insights for targeted therapies aimed at modulating immune responses in IBS management.