title: Increased plasma interleukin-32 expression in patients with neuromyelitis optica.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). The pathogenesis of NMO remains unclear. IL-32 is emerging as a critical molecule in the pathophysiology of immune-mediated chronic inflammatory diseases. Whether IL-32 levels are elevated in NMO patients is unclear. We aimed to determine whether IL-32 levels are elevated in NMO patients and explore its relationship with IL-6, IL-17, and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma IL-32α, IL-6 and IL-17A were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in NMO (n = 26), MS (n = 23) and 22 healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found IL-32α levels were higher in NMO patients compared with MS (p = 0.020) and healthy controls (p = 0.00001). IL-32α levels were increased in MS patients compared with controls (p = 0.009). IL-32α positively correlated with IL-6 and IL-17A levels and EDSS scores in NMO patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In summary, plasma IL-32α levels are associated with inflammatory responses in NMO patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China.
authors.forename: Honghao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Conghui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Fangcheng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Xueqiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: C496971:IL32 protein, human; D020381:Interleukin-17; D015850:Interleukin-6; D007378:Interleukins