title: Cytokine profile in relapsing‑remitting multiple sclerosis patients             and the association between progression and activity of the disease.
abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive immune‑ mediated disease caused             by demyelination of the central nervous system. Cytokines and their receptors             have an important role in the evolution of MS lesions, and pro‑ and anti‑inflammatory             cytokine levels have been found to correlate with changes in MS disease activity.             The aims of the present study were to evaluate the pro‑inflammatory [tumor necrosis             factor (TNF)‑α and interleukin (IL) ‑1β, ‑6 and ‑12], T helper (Th) 1 [interferon             (IFN)‑γ], Th17 (IL‑17) and Th2 (IL‑4 and ‑10) cytokine serum levels in relapsing‑remitting             (RR)‑MS patients and to evaluate the association between the cytokine profile             and the progression and activity of the disease. Serum cytokine levels were assessed             using enzyme linked‑immunosorbent assays in 169 RR‑MS patients in the remission             clinical phase and 132 healthy individuals who were age‑, gender‑, ethnicity‑             and body mass index‑matched. Disability and activity of the disease were evaluated             using the Expanded Disability Status Scale and magnetic resonance imaging with             gadolinium, respectively. IFN‑γ and IL‑6, ‑12 and ‑4 levels were higher in RR‑MS             patients compared to controls (P=0.0009, 0.0114, 0.0297 and 0.0004, respectively).             IL‑1 levels were higher in controls compared with RR‑MS patients. IL‑4 levels             were higher in RR‑MS patients with mild disability compared to those with moderate             and severe disability (P=0.0375). TNF‑α and IL‑10 levels were higher in RR‑MS             patients with inactive disease compared with those with active disease. IL‑17             levels showed a trend towards being higher in RR‑MS patients with inactive disease             compared to those with active disease (P=0.0631). Low TNF‑α and high IFN‑γ levels             were independently associated with RR‑MS (P=0.0078 and 0.0056, respectively) and             also with the activity of the disease (P=0.0348 and 0.0133, respectively). Results             indicated that RR‑MS patients, even in the remission clinical phase, exhibit a             complex system of inflammatory and anti‑inflammatory cytokines that may interact             to modulate the progression and activity of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences Postgraduate Program, Department of Pathology, Clinical Analysis, and Toxicology, Health Sciences Center, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Paula
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Kallaur
authors.forename: Sayonara Rangel
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Andréa Name
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Colado Simão
authors.forename: Elaine Regina
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Delicato de Almeida
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaminami Morimoto
authors.forename: Josiane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Wildea Lice
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: de Carvalho Jennings Pereira
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marques Andrade
authors.forename: Larissa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Muliterno Pelegrino
authors.forename: Sueli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Donizete Borelli
authors.forename: Damácio Ramon
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Kaimen-Maciel
authors.forename: Edna Maria Vissoci
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Reiche
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D011859:Radiography; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines