title: Selective expression of a neuromodulatory cytokine (IL-2) in specific brainstem neurovegetative centers: a possible final common neuro-molecular pathway in dying patients.
abstract: Cytokines interact with neurotransmitters and modify neuronal and neuroimmune functions. Intense in situ neuronal IL-2 immunoreactivity was detected in vital human brainstem neuronal centers which are principally implicated in cardio-respiratory control mechanisms. These observations were made in critically-ill aging adult as well as in young infant patients dying from various clinico-pathological conditions. We suggested that this in situ cytokine over-expression might tip a delicate balance in molecular interactions in those vital neuro-vegetative centers, causing disturbed homeostatic control of cardio-respiratory functions and impaired arousal responses; we further hypothesized that this IL-2-induced neuro-molecular disequilibrium in the brainstem microenvironment might thus be part of a final common pathway leading to death.
authors.affiliation: Neuropathology Unit, Department of Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Biology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire BRUGMANN, Université Libre de Bruxelles (U.L.B.), Brussels, Belgium. Hazim.Kadhim@chu-brugmann.be
authors.forename: Hazim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kadhim
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deltenre
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Segers
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sébire
mesh_terms: D017776:Autonomic Pathways / Q000502:physiology*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D003643:Death; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D012119:Respiration
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents