title: Interleukin-2, soluble interleukin-2-receptor, neopterin, L-tryptophan and beta 2-microglobulin levels in CSF and serum of patients with relapsing-remitting or chronic-progressive multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), soluble IL-2 receptors (sIL-2R), neopterin, L-tryptophan (L-TRP) and beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-M) were measured in 31 untreated multiple sclerosis patients in acute exacerbation and 27 normal controls. Twenty-six patients showed the relapsing-remitting type of disease (RRMS); 5 had a chronic-progressive course (CPMS). No changes in serum IL-2 and sIL-2R were found between RRMS patients and controls, whereas serum and CSF levels as well as the CSF/serum ratio of neopterin were significantly elevated in the RRMS group. IL-2 was not detectable in CSF of patients or controls and sIL-2R levels were at the level of the lower detection (LD) sensitivity of the ELISA method. Four of 23 RRMS patients versus 1 of 25 controls showed CSF sIL-2R levels above the LD sensitivity, indicating a trend towards elevation in acute relapse. No difference was found in serum and CSF L-TRP and beta 2-M of patients and controls. In CSF of RRMS patients neopterin and L-TRP correlated negatively, reflecting the interferon-gamma mediated activation of macrophages in acute relapse. A significant positive correlation (Spearman rank 0.57, P = 0.001) between serum IL-2 levels and duration of acute relapse (mean 30 days) warrants further evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Klinikum der Johanm-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universität, Abteilung für Neurologie, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ott
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Demisch
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Engelhardt
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Fischer
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D019798:Neopterin; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012008:Recurrence; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000378:metabolism*; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001798:Blood Proteins; D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D001708:Biopterins; D019798:Neopterin; D014364:Tryptophan