title: Cytokines and peripheral nerve disorders.
abstract: Peripheral nerve production of cytokines originates from resident and recruited macrophages, lymphocytes, mastocytes, Schwann cells, and probably neurons. Cytokines are involved in nerve lesions and repair. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) injected into nerve induces Wallerian degeneration, whereas, interleukin-1 (IL-1) production promotes detersion by scavenger macrophages, and synthesis of neurotrophic factors (nerve growth factor-NGF- and leukemia inhibitory factor-LIF). After experimental axotomy, other neurotrophic factors, including IL-6, LIF and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1), are overexpressed in nerve and promote axonal growth until axon/Schwann cell contact. Proinflammatory cytokines are instrumental in the course of inflammatory demyelinating neuropathies. They increase vascular permeability and blood nerve barrier breakdown (TNF-alpha, vascular endothelial growth factor/ vascular permeability factor-VEGF/VPF), favor transmigration of leukocytes into nerve, induce activation and proliferation of lymphocytes (IL-1, IL-2) and macrophages (gamma-interferon-IFN-gamma), and have a direct myelinotoxic activity (TNF-alpha and TNF-beta). In addition, downregulation of the immunosuppressive cytokine TGF-beta 1 may favor the nerve inflammatory reactions.
authors.affiliation: Groupe d'Etudes et de Recherches sur le Muscle et le Nerf (GERMEN), Faculté de médecine de Créteil, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Créange
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barlovatz-Meimon
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Gherardi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology*; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000502:physiology; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000276:immunology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000276:immunology; D009443:Neuritis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators