Serum level of interleukin-6 in Chinese patients with multiple sclerosis.
The aim of this study was to investigate the serum concentration of interleukin (IL)-6 in patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RR-MS), compare the difference between males and females, and explore the correlation between the serum concentration of IL-6 and clinical parameters like the current age, the age at onset, disease duration, disability (expanded disability status scale, EDSS), and the number of relapse. We compared the serum concentration of IL-6 in 39 patients with MS and 39 healthy controls matched with sex and age. The serum IL-6 concentration was measured by FlowCytomix. Compared to healthy controls, both the frequency of subjects with detectable level of IL-6 (P=0.005) and the serum concentration of IL-6 (P=0.004) were significantly higher in MS patients. When data were analyzed by gender, statistical significances between MS patients and healthy controls were observed only in females, although the frequency with detectable level and the serum concentration of IL-6 were higher in male MS patients than male controls. The serum level of IL-6 was found to be significantly positively correlated with the number of relapse for female MS patients (r(s)=0.511, P=0.009), with the current age for male MS patients (r(s)=0.700, P=0.005), and with the age at onset for all MS patients (r(s)=0.351, P=0.028). Our results may support that IL-6 is involved in the pathogenesis of MS and indicate that differences exist between male and female patients.
Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Medical School of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Ying-Chun
YC
Chen
Xin
X
Yang
Ling
L
Miao
Zhen-Guo
ZG
Liu
Wei
W
Li
Zhong-Xin
ZX
Zhao
Xiao-Jiang
XJ
Sun
Guo-Xin
GX
Jiang
Sheng-Di
SD
Chen
Qi
Q
Cheng
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000097:blood*; D012008:Recurrence; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D055815:Young Adult
C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6