Influence of interleukin-6 on the development of peritumoral brain edema in meningiomas.
OBJECTIVE
Peritumoral brain edema (PTBE) is associated with perioperative neurological deficits in patients with meningiomas. However, the pathogenesis of meningioma-associated edema remains unclear. In the present study, the authors investigated the expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and its relationship with PTBE in resected meningiomas.


METHODS
Thirty-six benign meningiomas obtained in 36 patients were studied retrospectively. Edema volume was assessed on MR images, and an edema index (EI) was calculated. Interleukin-6 mRNA and protein expression were examined by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical staining.


RESULTS
Peritumoral brain edema was found in 16 patients (44%). Neither age, sex, histological subtype, nor tumor location were related to PTBE. The level of IL-6 mRNA was 7.72 times greater in the edema group (EI > 0.2) than in the nonedema group (EI < 0.2; p = 0.011). On immunohistochemical analysis, IL-6 protein was found localized in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells, and was detected in 12 (75%) of 16 cases of edematous meningiomas, but in only 6 (30%) of 20 nonedematous cases. There was a significant correlation between the severity of PTBE and IL-6 expression (p = 0.004).


CONCLUSIONS
The authors' results in this study indicate that IL-6 expression may contribute to the development of brain edema associated with meningiomas.
Park
Kyung-Jae
KJ
Department of Neurosurgery, Korea University Anam Hospital, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Kang
Shin-Hyuk
SH
Chae
Yang-Seok
YS
Yu
Mi-Ok
MO
Yoo
Mi-Ok
MO
Cho
Tai-Hyoung
TH
Suh
Jung-Keun
JK
Lee
Hoon-Kap
HK
Chung
Yong-Gu
YG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008579:Meningioma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D015850:Interleukin-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger