In vivo relationship of interleukin-2 and soluble IL-2 receptor to blood-brain barrier impairment in patients with active multiple sclerosis.
Interleukin (IL)-2 has well-recognized effects on cerebral endothelial cells and, therefore, may mediate disruption of the blood-brain barrier in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). To evaluate the in vivo relationship of the IL-2 system to blood-brain barrier impairment in MS, levels of IL-2 and soluble IL-2 receptors (sIL-2R) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples from 50 patients with active MS and 49 controls were correlated with values of the CSF to serum albumin ratio. Intrathecal levels of IL-2 and sIL-2R were significantly higher in MS compared with the control groups and correlated with albumin ratios in MS patients. Intrathecal levels of IL-2 and sIL-2R also correlated with the degree of barrier damage in these patients. It is suggested that intrathecal levels of IL-2 and sIL-2R are related to barrier impairment in MS and may be important in understanding some of the pathological changes of this condition.
Sharief
M K
MK
Department of Clinical Neurochemistry, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London, UK.
Hentges
R
R
Ciardi
M
M
Thompson
E J
EJ
D000328:Adult; D000418:Albumins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis*; D012016:Reference Values; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis
D000418:Albumins; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D012709:Serum Albumin