Notable Increased Cerebrospinal Fluid Levels of Soluble Interleukin-6 Receptors in Neuromyelitis Optica.
Wang H, Wang K, Zhong X, Dai Y, Qiu W, Wu A, Hu X.
Source
Department of Neurology, The First Af?liated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
Abstract
Background: IL-6 is a proin?ammatory cytokine which is involved in the maintenance of the humoral response in various autoimmune disorders. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) IL-6 has shown to be increased in neuromyelitis optica (NMO). The soluble form of IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R), which links to IL-6, can activate biological responses in cells. Whether or not sIL-6R is altered in NMO has not been clarified. Objective: To measure CSF IL-6 and sIL-6R in NMO and multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, and investigate whether IL-6 and sIL-6R have possible uses as sensitive biomarkers for diseases activity. Methods: CSF concentrations of IL-6 and sIL-6R were measured by an ELISA in NMO (n = 22) and MS (n = 18) patients, as well as control subjects (n = 14). Results: The concentration of IL-6 levels were higher in NMO compared to MS (p = 0.032) and the controls (p = 0.023). The levels of sIL-6R were also higher in NMO compared to MS (p = 0.002) and the controls (p < 0.001). CSF sIL-6R was associated with an Expanded Disability Status Scale score in NMO (p = 0.005) but not in MS (p = 0.891). In the MS subgroup, sIL-6R concentrations were associated with CSF white blood cells (p = 0.034). Conclusions: Our study revealed that CSF sIL-6R was increased in NMO patients, and correlated with clinical presentations.
Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.
PMID: 22777162 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]
Read More: Notable Increased Cerebrospinal Fluid … [Neuroimmunomodulation. 2012] – PubMed – NCBI