Tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6 in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with cervical myelopathy and lumbar radiculopathy

Abstract

There have been few reports describing cytokines in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with spinal degenerative disorders. This study investigated whether interleukin-1b (IL-1b), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) could be detected in CSF of patients with cervical myelopathy or lumbar radiculopathy and whether the concentrations of those cytokines correlated with the severity of disease conditions. CSF samples were obtained from 21 patients with cervical myelopathy (Group M) and 19 patients with lumbar radiculopathy (Group R), and six volunteers (control). The concentration of IL-6 was significantly higher in Groups M and R than in the control, possibly demonstrating spinal cord and nerve root damage, respectively. However, TNF-a was lower than the detection limit. IL-1b was detected in only five samples from three patients in Group M and two volunteers in the control. The concentrations of IL-6 did not show any correlation with symptom duration, the scoring system by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association, or the duration of nerve root block. There is a possibility that the concentration of inflammatory cytokines in CSF can indicate certain pathological aspects of cervical myelopathy or lumbar radiculopathy.

Proinflammatory cytokines in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with lumbar radiculopathy

“…Only the concentrations of IL-8 in CSF were increased in 12 of 39 patients; however, no relationship between CSF IL-8 concentration and pain intensity was found. On the other hand, the concentration of IL-6 and TNF-a in the CSF of patients with lumbar radiculopathy and its correlation with the severity of disease has been examined [7]. TNF-a levels were beneath the limit of detection, consistent with the data in the current study.…”

“…To our knowledge, there have been several clinical reports regarding the cytokines associated with compressed spinal nerves of patients with spinal degenerative disorders such as LSS [1,7,12]. However, the findings are controversial.…”

Cytokine Concentrations in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of Great Danes with Cervical Spondylomyelopathy

“…Most studies have investigated IL‐6 in the setting of inflammatory SC disease or acute SC injury, and much less is known about its role in chronic compressive myelopathies 26, 27, 28. CSF IL‐6 was increased in people with cervical compressive myelopathy when compared to control individuals, but no correlation with disease severity or duration was found 17. No studies have correlated CSF IL‐6 concentrations and SC signal changes.…”

“…Another limitation is that many of the cytokines were below the detection limits for both control and CSM‐affected GDs, regardless of the latter being on medication or not. Human studies evaluating CSF cytokines concentrations in cervical myelopathy also found various cytokines, such as TNF‐α and IL‐10, that were below the detection limits 16, 17. However, that a cytokine is not measurable on CSF does not completely exclude a role in the disease pathogenesis.…”

“…Loss of the blood–SC barrier integrity can facilitate for circulating immune system cells to reach the SC 15. Concentrations of the proinflammatory interleukins (IL)‐6 and IL‐8 were elevated in affected humans with cervical spondylotic myelopathy when compared to controls 16, 17. No studies have investigated the CSF cytokine profile of dogs with CSM.…”