title: Do cytokines have any role in Wilson's disease?
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the serum cytokine levels in patients with Wilson's disease (WD) and correlate with phenotype, therapeutic status and laboratory data. In this cross-sectional study, the serum levels of cytokines were estimated in 34 patients (M : F, 23 : 11; drug-naive, 11) with WD (mean age: 13.8 +/- 8.6 and 19.6 +/- 9.03 years) and compared with 30 controls. The following serum cytokines were analysed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay: (i) tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, (ii) interferon (IFN)-gamma, (iii) interleukin (IL)-2, (iv) IL-6 and (v) IL-4. Serum TNF-alpha (P < 0.001), IFN-gamma (P = 0.005) and IL-6 (P < 0.001) were detectable in WD compared with controls. However, serum level elevation of IL-4 (P = 0.49) and IL-2 (P = 0.11), although detectable compared with controls, was statistically insignificant. The disease severity and therapeutic status did not affect the cytokines. Presence of anaemia, leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, pancytopenia and hepatic dysfunction did not influence cytokine levels. There was a significant negative correlation between IL-6 and ceruloplasmin (P = 0.04) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4) and copper level (P = 0.01). Serum cytokines, both proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory subtypes, were elevated significantly in patients with WD. Further studies would establish their role in its pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Goyal
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sinha
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jayalekshmy
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Taly
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002570:Ceruloplasmin / Q000032:analysis; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006527:Hepatolenticular Degeneration / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D015847:Interleukin-4; D003300:Copper; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D002570:Ceruloplasmin