title: Interleukin-6 serum levels in patients with Parkinson's disease.
abstract: Several lines of evidence suggest that neuroimmune mechanisms may be involved in the neurodegenerative process of Parkinson's disease (PD). Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is increased in the nigrostriatal region and in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with PD. IL-6 serum level was evaluated in PD patients. The effects of levodopa treatment and disease severity on IL-6 were also studied. The IL-6 levels were similar between PD patients (treated and not treated) and controls. However, there was a negative correlation of IL-6 levels and the activities of daily living scale (P < 0.05), indicating that patients with more severe disease have higher levels of this cytokine. No correlation involving levodopa treatment and IL-6 serum level was found. The results suggest that only marginal effects of IL-6 occur on the peripheral immune system, and that the role of IL-6 and others neuroimmune factors needs to be well elucidated on PD.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Neurologia, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2350, 90035-003 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Kerly Wollmeister
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.forename: Artur Francisco Schumacher
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Schuh
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saute
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Townsend
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fricke
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leke
authors.forename: Diogo O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Luis Valmor
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Portela
authors.forename: Márcia Lorena Fagundes
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Chaves
authors.forename: Carlos R M
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Rieder
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D015850:Interleukin-6; D007980:Levodopa