title: Potential role of IL-13 in neuroprotection and cortical excitability regulation in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inflammation triggers secondary neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  It is unclear whether classical anti-inflammatory cytokines have the potential to interfere with synaptic transmission and neuronal survival in MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Correlation analyses between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) contents of anti-inflammatory cytokines and molecular, imaging, clinical, and neurophysiological measures of neuronal alterations were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our data suggest that interleukin-13 (IL-13) plays a neuroprotective role in MS brains. We found, in fact, that the levels of IL-13 in the CSF of MS patients were correlated with the contents of amyloid-β(1-42). Correlations were also found between IL-13 and imaging indexes of axonal and neuronal integrity, such as the retinal nerve fibre layer thickness and the macular volume evaluated by optical coherence tomography. Furthermore, the levels of IL-13 were related to better performance in the low-contrast acuity test and Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite scoring. Finally, by means of transcranial magnetic stimulation, we have shown that GABAA-mediated cortical inhibition was more pronounced in patients with high IL-13 levels in the CSF, as expected for a neuroprotective, anti-excitotoxic effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present correlation study provides some evidence for the involvement of IL-13 in the modulation of neuronal integrity and synaptic function in patients with MS.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mancino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bergami
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castelli
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Chiara
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Studer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mataluni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sancesario
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Parisi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kusayanagi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bernardi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nucci
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bernardini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martino
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Furlan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Centonze
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D007558:Italy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009474:Neurons / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D009435:Synaptic Transmission; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D015415:Biomarkers; D018793:Interleukin-13; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C075222:amyloid beta-protein (1-42)