title: A spring to summer shift of pro-inflammatory cytokine production in multiple sclerosis patients.
abstract: Higher MS relapse frequency is observed during warmer months in different regions, but evidence for an underlying immunological variation is lacking. Therefore, we investigated seasonal variations of cytokine production in relapsing-remitting MS patients. Twenty-one patients and eight controls had blood samples drawn in each season, evaluating for IL-10, IL-6, TNF-α and IFN-γ. The lowest levels of cytokine production were observed in spring samples, with a significant increase from spring to summer for most cytokines, and especially IFN-γ and TNF-α. This phenomenon may underlie the higher prevalence of clinical and subclinical MS activity observed in warmer months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil; Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Bioagents, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil. Electronic address: alfredodamasceno@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Damasceno
authors.affiliation: Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Bioagents, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adriel Santos
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.affiliation: Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Bioagents, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farias
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Benito Pereira
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Damasceno
authors.affiliation: Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Bioagents, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leonilda Maria Barbosa
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: dos Santos
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cendes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood*; D012621:Seasons; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma
keywords: Chronobiology; Cytokines; Immunology; Multiple sclerosis; Phenology; Seasonal variations