Cytokine profile in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients and the association between progression and activity of the disease

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive immune‑ mediated disease caused by demyelination of the central nervous system. Cytokines and their receptors have an important role in the evolution of MS lesions, and pro‑ and anti‑inflammatory cytokine levels have been found to correlate with changes in MS disease activity. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the pro‑inflammatory [tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‑α and interleukin (IL) ‑1β, ‑6 and ‑12], T helper (Th) 1 [interferon (IFN)‑γ], Th17 (IL‑17) and Th2 (IL‑4 and ‑10) cytokine serum levels in relapsing‑remitting (RR)‑MS patients and to evaluate the association between the cytokine profile and the progression and activity of the disease. Serum cytokine levels were assessed using enzyme linked‑immunosorbent assays in 169 RR‑MS patients in the remission clinical phase and 132 healthy individuals who were age‑, gender‑, ethnicity‑ and body mass index‑matched. Disability and activity of the disease were evaluated using the Expanded Disability Status Scale and magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium, respectively. IFN‑γ and IL‑6, ‑12 and ‑4 levels were higher in RR‑MS patients compared to controls (P=0.0009, 0.0114, 0.0297 and 0.0004, respectively). IL‑1 levels were higher in controls compared with RR‑MS patients. IL‑4 levels were higher in RR‑MS patients with mild disability compared to those with moderate and severe disability (P=0.0375). TNF‑α and IL‑10 levels were higher in RR‑MS patients with inactive disease compared with those with active disease. IL‑17 levels showed a trend towards being higher in RR‑MS patients with inactive disease compared to those with active disease (P=0.0631). Low TNF‑α and high IFN‑γ levels were independently associated with RR‑MS (P=0.0078 and 0.0056, respectively) and also with the activity of the disease (P=0.0348 and 0.0133, respectively). Results indicated that RR‑MS patients, even in the remission clinical phase, exhibit a complex system of inflammatory and anti‑inflammatory cytokines that may interact to modulate the progression and activity of the disease.

Effect of high dose vitamin D intake on interleukin-17 levels in multiple sclerosis: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

“…Moreover, vitamin D decreased IL-17 levels in several in vitro studies (Chang et al, 2010;Joshi et al, 2011;Lysandropoulos et al, 2011;Correale et al, 2011). However, some studies have not found a significant decrease in IL-17 after using vitamin D supplementation (Bushnell et al, 2012;Kallaur et al, 2013;Smolders et al, 2009).…”

“…Many recent studies have focused on the role of interleukins secreted by different classes of immune cells in MS (Kallaur et al, 2013). Interleukin17 (IL-17) is a central cytokine in MS, secreted by a distinct group of T-cells named TH17 cells and has pro-inflammatory effects (Luchtman et al, 2014).…”

Short-Term Effect of High-Dose Vitamin D on the Level of Interleukin 10 in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

“…IL-10-secreting cells decrease in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis [6]. The IL-10 level is lower in relapsing remitting MS (RRMS) patients during remission [7]. A promoter polymorphism of IL-10 might be related to the severity of MS [8].…”

Post-Traumatic Arthritis: The Role of Cytokine Levels in Serum and Synovial Fluid

“…Biological aspects affecting cytokines in the synovial fluid and the articular cartilage have recently been studied due to the fact that Cytokines are important factors for treating and preventing osteoarthritis (Kapoor et al, 2011). IL-17has also been widely researched on pathogens and the treatment of multiple sclerosis (Kallaur et al, 2013;Elain et al, 2014;Sexton et al, 2014), systemic lupus erythematosus (Onishi & Gaffen, 2010;Tanasescu et al, 2010), inflammatory bowel disease (Yu et al, 2012;Katz et al, 2014), and psoriasis (Raychaudhuri, 2013;Chiricozzi, 2014). Nevertheless, its relationship with osteoarthritis needs to be studied further.…”