Circulating interleukin-15 and RANTES chemokine in MS patients: effect of treatment with methylprednisolone in patients with relapse.
BACKGROUND
Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a proinflammatory cytokine. RANTES is a member of the beta chemokines subfamily with strong chemoattractant activity for T lymphocytes and monocytes.


METHODS
We measured by enzyme-like immunosorbent assay (ELISA) serum levels of IL-15 and RANTES in 24 patients with MS in relapse, 27 patients with stable MS and 21 healthy subjects. Serum levels of IL-15 and RANTES were also measured before, 5 days and 1 month after onset of treatment with methylprednisolone i.v.


RESULTS
IL-15 serum levels were higher in patients with relapse compared with patients in stable stage of the disease and healthy subjects (p=0.001 and p=0.008 respectively). RANTES serum levels were increased in patients with relapse and stable disease as compared to healthy subjects (p=0.01). IL-15 and RANTES levels were not decreased after treatment with corticosteroids.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest a possible role of IL-15 and RANTES in MS. Treatment with methylprednisolone in relapse had no effect on serum IL-15 and RANTES levels.
Rentzos
Michael
M
Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece. mrentzos@med.uoa.gr
Nikolaou
Chryssoula
C
Rombos
Antonis
A
Evangelopoulos
M Eleftheria
ME
Dimitrakopoulos
Antonis
A
Kararizou
Evangelia
E
Koutsis
George
G
Zoga
Margarita
M
Tsoutsou
Anthousa
A
Sfangos
Kostas
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018946:Chemokine CCL5 / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012008:Recurrence; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018946:Chemokine CCL5; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D019409:Interleukin-15; D008775:Methylprednisolone