Interleukin-15 and interleukin-12 are elevated in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
BACKGROUND
There is evidence that immunological factors may be involved in pathogenic mechanisms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Interleukin (IL)-15 and IL-12 are proinflammatory cytokines produced by activated blood and glial cells. They promote T cell differentiation and proliferation.


METHODS
We measured by ELISA serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of IL-15 and IL-12 in 21 patients with ALS and 19 patients with other noninflammatory neurological disorders (NIND) studied as a control group. IL-15 and IL-12 serum and CSF levels were also correlated with duration of the disease, the disability level determined using the revised ALS Functional Rating Scale and the clinical subtype of the disease onset in patients with ALS.


RESULTS
IL-15 and IL-12 serum levels were higher in patients with ALS as compared with patients with NIND (p = 0.014 and p = 0.011, respectively). IL-15 and IL-12 CSF levels were also increased in patients with ALS (p = 0.011 and p = 0.005, respectively). IL-15 and IL-12 levels were not correlated with disease duration, disability scale or clinical subtype of the disease onset in ALS patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that these molecules may be involved in the pathogenic mechanisms acting as potential markers of immune activation in ALS.
Rentzos
Michael
M
Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, Athens National University, School of Medicine, Athens, Greece. mrentzos @ med.uoa.gr
Rombos
Antonis
A
Nikolaou
Chryssoula
C
Zoga
Margarita
M
Zouvelou
Vassiliki
V
Dimitrakopoulos
Antonis
A
Alexakis
Theodoros
T
Tsoutsou
Anthousa
A
Samakovli
Anastasia
A
Michalopoulou
Maria
M
Evdokimidis
Ioannis
I
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors
D019409:Interleukin-15; D018664:Interleukin-12