Circulating interleukin-15 and RANTES chemokine in Parkinson's disease.
Interleukin-15 promotes T-cell proliferation, induction of cytolytic effector cells including natural killer (NK) and cytotoxic cells and stimulates B-cell to proliferate and secrete immunoglobulins. RANTES is a C-C beta chemokine with strong chemoattractant activity for T lymphocytes and monocytes.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of our study was to find out whether IL-15 and RANTES are involved in the possible inflammatory reactions of PD.


METHODS
We measured by immunoassay serum IL-15 and RANTES levels in 41 patients with PD in comparison with serum levels in 19 healthy subjects age and sex-matched. IL-15 and RANTES levels were correlated with sex, age, disease duration. H-Y stage and the UPDRS III score in all the studied groups and were also correlated with treatment status in PD patients.


RESULTS
The PD group presented with significantly increased RANTES levels as compared to the control group (P = 0.0009). No difference was observed as regards IL-15 levels. A strong and significant correlation between RANTES levels and UPDRS III score was observed in PD patients (R(s) = 0.42, P = 0.007). Untreated patients had significantly higher RANTES levels as compared to the controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings may suggest a recruitment of activated monocytes, macrophages and T lymphocytes to sites of inflammation in the central nervous system of PD patients.
Rentzos
M
M
Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Athens National University, Aeginition Hospital, 72-74 Vas Sophias Avenue, Athens, Greece. mrentzos@med.uoa.gr
Nikolaou
C
C
Andreadou
E
E
Paraskevas
G P
GP
Rombos
A
A
Zoga
M
M
Tsoutsou
A
A
Boufidou
F
F
Kapaki
E
E
Vassilopoulos
D
D
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D018946:Chemokine CCL5 / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000276:immunology; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012737:Sex Factors
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D018946:Chemokine CCL5; D019409:Interleukin-15