title: Evaluation of interleukins, ACTH, cortisol and prolactin concentrations in the blood of patients with parkinson's disease.
abstract: Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by a markedly decreased number of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons. The pathogenesis of PD is still unknown; among other etiological factors, immunological abnormalities have been suggested. Recently, interleukin-2 (IL-2) has been hypothesized to be an endogenous cytokine that regulates striatal dopaminergic function. We examined the plasma concentrations of IL-1, IL-2, IL-6 and blood levels of ACTH, cortisol and prolactin of 21 patients with PD without any previous treatment. Age- and sex-matched subjects without any neurological or immune disorders were used as controls. Significantly higher serum concentrations of IL-2 in patients with PD were found. Treatment with antiparkinsonian drugs reduced IL-2 levels in these patients. Our results suggested a functional relationship between central dopaminergic and immune systems and a possible involvement of the latter in the pathogenesis of PD.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Endocrinology, Medical University of Lódź, Poland.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stypuła
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kunert-Radek
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stepień
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zylińska
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pawlikowski
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D007378:Interleukins; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011388:Prolactin; D004298:Dopamine; D006854:Hydrocortisone