title: IL-1ra serum levels in disease stages of MS--a marker for progression?
abstract: Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is one of the major proinflammatory cytokines expressed consistently in multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions. Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) is the only known naturally occurring specific antagonistic cytokine counteracting IL-1. Thus IL-1ra may have a downregulating potential in the disease course of MS. We analysed if circulating IL-1ra could be associated with different disease stages of MS in sera of 84 MS patients and 18 controls. IL-1ra showed considerable variations in MS patients and controls. Nevertheless we found significantly elevated serum levels in active as well as in stable disease stages compared to controls. IL-1ra levels were higher in progressive disease courses compared to relapsing-remitting MS, but not statistically significant (median: 516 versus 434 pg/ml). Further analysis with larger groups of patients and longitudinal studies will clarify if IL-1ra is useful as a prognostic serum marker in MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heesen
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sieverding
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Buhmann
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gbadamosi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood*; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000097:blood; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000097:blood; D011379:Prognosis; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; C507763:IL1RN protein, human; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins