Interleukin-2 levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of multiple sclerosis patients.
A sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method was employed to measure interleukin-2 (IL-2) levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and sera from 30 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and 8 patients with other neurological diseases. Detectable levels of IL-2 were found in 6 sera and 9 CSF samples of 21 patients with acute relapse of MS. However, only 3 patients showed measurable IL-2 both in CSF and in serum. IL-2 was not detected in specimens from 9 patients with chronic-progressive MS, whereas high levels were found in 2 CSF samples from patients with aseptic meningitis. Our data suggest that systemic activation of a T-cell population is present in some MS patients; moreover, an active immune mechanism involving IL-2 production takes place within the central nervous system.
Gallo
P
P
Department of Neurology, University of Padua, Italy.
Piccinno
M
M
Pagni
S
S
Tavolato
B
B
D000328:Adult; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000378:metabolism
D007376:Interleukin-2