Interaction between miR-142-3p and BDNF Val/Met Polymorphism Regulates Multiple Sclerosis Severity.

MiR-142-3p has recently emerged as key factor in tailoring personalized treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic autoimmune demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) with heterogeneous pathophysiology and an unpredictable course. With its involvement in a detrimental regulatory axis with interleukin-1beta (IL1ß), miR-142-3p orchestrates excitotoxic synaptic alterations that significantly impact both MS progression and therapeutic outcomes. In this study, we investigated for the first time the influence of individual genetic variability on the miR-142-3p excitotoxic effect in MS. We specifically focused on the single-nucleotide polymorphism Val66Met (rs6265) of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene, known for its crucial role in CNS functioning. We assessed the levels of miR-142-3p and IL1ß in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obtained from a cohort of 114 patients with MS upon diagnosis. By stratifying patients according to their genetic background, statistical correlations with clinical parameters were performed. Notably, in Met-carrier patients, we observed a decoupling of miR-142-3p levels from IL1ß levels in the CSF, as well as from of disease severity (Expanded Disability Status Score, EDSS; Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score, MSSS; Age-Related Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score, ARMSS) and progression (Progression Index, PI). Our discovery of the interference between BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and the synaptotoxic IL1ß-miR-142-3p axis, therefore hampering miR-142-3p action on MS course, provides valuable insights for further development of personalized medicine in the field.

Kappa Free Light Chains, Soluble Interleukin-2 Receptor, and Interleukin-6 Help Explore Patients Presenting With Brain White Matter Hyperintensities.

Introduction: Many patients are referred to multiple sclerosis (MS) tertiary centers to manage brain white matter hyperintensities (WMH). Multiple diagnoses can match in such situations, and we lack proper tools to diagnose complex cases. Objective: This study aimed to prospectively analyze and correlate with the final diagnosis, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) interleukin (IL)-1ß, soluble IL-2 receptor (CD25), IL-6, IL-10, and kappa free light chains (KFLC) concentrations in patients presenting with brain WMH. Methods: All patients over 18 years addressed to our MS tertiary center for the diagnostic workup of brain WMH were included from June 1, 2020, to June 1, 2021. Patients were separated into three groups-MS and related disorder (MSARD), other inflammatory neurological disorder (OIND), and non-inflammatory neurological disorder (NIND) groups-according to clinical presentation, MRI characteristics, and biological workup. Results: A total of 176 patients (129 women, mean age 45.8 ± 14.7 years) were included. The diagnosis was MSARD (n = 88), OIND (n = 35), and NIND (n = 53). Median CSF KFLC index and KFLC intrathecal fraction (IF) were higher in MSARD than in the OIND and NIND groups; p < 0.001 for all comparisons. CSF CD25 and IL-6 concentrations were higher in the OIND group than in both the MSARD and NIND groups; p < 0.001 for all comparisons. KFLC index could rule in MSARD when compared to NIND (sensitivity, 0.76; specificity, 0.91) or OIND (sensitivity, 0.73; specificity, 0.76). These results were similar to those with oligoclonal bands (sensitivity, 0.59; specificity, 0.98 compared to NIND; sensitivity, 0.59; specificity, 0.88 compared to OIND). In contrast, elevated CSF CD25 and IL-6 could rule out MSARD when compared to OIND (sensitivity, 0.58 and 0.88; specificity, 0.95 and 0.74, respectively). Discussion: Our results show that, as OCBs, KFLC biomarkers are helpful tools to rule in MSARD, whereas elevated CSF CD25 and IL-6 rule out MSARD. Interestingly, CSF IL-6 concentration could help identify neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease, and central nervous system (CNS) vasculitis. These results need to be confirmed within more extensive and multicentric studies. Still, they sustain that KFLC, CSF CD25, and CSF IL-6 could be reliable biomarkers in brain WMH diagnostic workup for differentiating MSARD from other brain inflammatory MS mimickers.

Early Inflammatory Cytokine Expression in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Patients with Spontaneous Intraventricular Hemorrhage.

We investigated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) expression of inflammatory cytokines and their relationship with spontaneous intracerebral and intraventricular hemorrhage (ICH, IVH) and perihematomal edema (PHE) volumes in patients with acute IVH. Twenty-eight adults with IVH requiring external ventricular drainage for obstructive hydrocephalus had cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collected for up to 10 days and had levels of interleukin-1α (IL-1α), IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), and C-C motif chemokine ligand CCL2 measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Median [IQR] ICH and IVH volumes at baseline (T0) were 19.8 [5.8-48.8] and 14.3 [5.3-38] mL respectively. Mean levels of IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, and CCL2 peaked early compared to day 9-10 (p < 0.05) and decreased across subsequent time periods. Levels of IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and CCL2 had positive correlations with IVH volume at days 3-8 whereas positive correlations with ICH volume occurred earlier at day 1-2. Significant correlations were found with PHE volume for IL-6, IL-10 and CCL2 at day 1-2 and with relative PHE at days 7-8 or 9-10 for IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10. Time trends of CSF cytokines support experimental data suggesting association of cerebral inflammatory responses with ICH/IVH severity. Pro-inflammatory markers are potential targets for injury reduction.

Inflammatory Markers in Cerebrospinal Fluid from Patients with Hydrocephalus: A Systematic Literature Review.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate existing literature on inflammatory markers in CSF from patients with hydrocephalus and identify potential markers capable of promoting hydrocephalus development and progression. METHODS: Relevant studies published before December 3rd 2020 were identified from PubMed, Embase, and reference lists. Studies were screened for eligibility using the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data from eligible studies were extracted, and sources of bias were evaluated. We included articles written in English investigating inflammatory markers in CSF from patients with hydrocephalus and control subjects. The review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines by three independent reviewers. RESULTS: Twenty-two studies analyzed CSF from 311 patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH), 178 with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH), 151 with other hydrocephalus diagnoses, and 394 control subjects. Fifty-eight inflammatory markers were investigated. The CSF of iNPH patients had increased CSF levels of IL-6, IL-1ß, and LRG compared with control subjects, whereas the CSF of PHH patients had increased levels of IL-6, IL-18, and VEGF. CSF from patients with "other hydrocephalus diagnoses" had elevated IFN-γ compared to control subjects, and VEGF was increased in congenital hydrocephalus, spina bifida, and hydrocephalus associated with tuberculous meningitis compared with controls. CONCLUSION: IL-6, IL-1ß, LRG, IL-18, VEGF, and IFN-γ are elevated in CSF from patients with hydrocephalus and may be involved in promotion of hydrocephalus development and progression. They may serve as novel disease biomarkers, and their signaling pathways may represent targets for pharmacological management of hydrocephalus.

Interleukin-1ß Alters Hebbian Synaptic Plasticity in Multiple Sclerosis.

In multiple sclerosis (MS), inflammation alters synaptic transmission and plasticity, negatively influencing the disease course. In the present study, we aimed to explore the influence of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1ß on peculiar features of associative Hebbian synaptic plasticity, such as input specificity, using the paired associative stimulation (PAS). In 33 relapsing remitting-MS patients and 15 healthy controls, PAS was performed on the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscle. The effects over the motor hot spot of the APB and abductor digiti minimi (ADM) muscles were tested immediately after PAS and 15 and 30 min later. Intracortical excitability was tested with paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of IL-1ß were calculated. In MS patients, PAS failed to induce long-term potentiation (LTP)-like effects in the APB muscle and elicited a paradoxical motor-evoked potential (MEP) increase in the ADM. IL-1ß levels were negatively correlated with the LTP-like response in the APB muscle. Moreover, IL-1ß levels were associated with synaptic hyperexcitability tested with paired-pulse TMS. Synaptic hyperexcitability caused by IL-1ß may critically contribute to alter Hebbian plasticity in MS, inducing a loss of topographic specificity.

Effect of intraventricularly administered low-dose recombinant tissue plasminogen activator on interleukin 1-beta and transforming growth factor beta concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with primary intracerebral hemorrhage associated with intraventricular hemorrhage: A retrospective study.

It is increasingly recognized that modulation of brain inflammation may uncover new potential therapeutic strategies for stroke. Recent studies have shifted focus from immunological implications in ischemic stroke to a more devastating form; the hemorrhagic stroke.The aim of this study was to investigate the neuroinflammatory response in cerebrospinal fluid in patients with primary intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) associated with intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in the presence of low-dose recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA).This retrospective study included 88 adults with primary ICH associated with IVH. Patients were divided into 2 groups: rt-PA group and non-rt-PA group, which received normal standard of care for this diagnosis. The rt-PA group was treated via catheter-based clot lysis using low-dose rt-PA injected through the external ventricular drain (EVD) system, and the non-rt-PA group was treated with saline applied to EVD system in equivalent volume. Cerebrospinal fluid samples from rt-PA were obtained from the EVD system at 4 time points: once before the drug administration, and then on day 1, 3, and 7. No attempt at randomization was made. The decision to inject rt-PA was based on the preference of the primary attending neurologist and the ability to obtain consent. Temporal interleukin-1 beta and transforming growth factor beta concentration changes were analyzed and compared between the 2 groups.The concentration of interleukin-1 beta was significantly lower in the rt-PA group than in the non-rt-PA group on day 7. In addition, the concentration of transforming growth factor beta was significantly higher in the rt-PA group than in the non-rt-PA group on day 1. There was a significant difference in interleukin-1 beta concentration between days 0 and 1 in comparison to day 3 in the rt-PA group, and between day 0 in comparison to day 3 and 7 in the non-rt-PA group. We also observed a significant difference in transforming growth factor beta concentration between days 0 and 1 and between days 3 and 7.The different pattern of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in patients with ICH associated with IVH suggest distinct characteristics of secondary brain injury depending on the treatment modality.

IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-10, and TNFα Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Human Influence the Susceptibility to Alzheimer's Disease Pathology.

BACKGROUND: Neuroinflammation plays an important role in Alzheimer's disease (AD). During this process, activated microglia release pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1ß, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) that participate in neuron damage, but also anti-inflammatory cytokines (such as IL-10), which maintain homeostasis of immune response. Previous studies showed the association of IL-1α -889C/T (rs1800587), IL-1ß-1473G/C (rs1143623), IL-6 -174C/G (rs1800795), IL-10 -1082G/A (rs1800896), and TNFα -308A/G (rs1800629) polymorphisms with AD. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate whether people with certain IL-1α, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-10, and TNFα genotypes in these polymorphisms are more prone to develop AD-related pathology, reflected by pathological levels of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) AD biomarkers including amyloid-ß1-42, total tau (t-tau), tau phosphorylated at Thr 181 (p-tau181), Ser 199 (p-tau199), and Thr 231 (p-tau231), and visinin-like protein 1 (VILIP-1). METHODS: The study included 115 AD patients, 53 patients with mild cognitive impairment, and 11 healthy controls. The polymorphisms were determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Levels of CSF biomarkers were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: A significant increase in p-tau CSF levels was found in patients with the AA IL-10 -1082G/A and GG TNFα -308A/G genotypes, and in carriers of a G allele in IL-1ß -1473C/G and IL-6 -174C/G polymorphisms. t-tau levels were increased in carriers of a G allele in IL-1ß -1473C/G polymorphism. An increase in VILIP-1 levels was observed in patients with CG and GG IL-1ß -1473C/G, GC IL-6 -174C/G, and GG TNFα -308A/G genotype. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that persons carrying certain genotypes in IL10 (-1082G/A), IL1ß (1473C/G), IL6 (-174C/G), and TNFIα (-308A/G) could be more vulnerable to development of neuroinflammation, and consequently of AD.

Intrathecal immunoreactivity in people with or without previous infectious mononucleosis.

OBJECTIVES: The risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) increases (OR: 3.1) after infectious mononucleosis (IM). However, the nature of this link is obscure. We tested the hypothesis that IM might incur long-term sequelae, including low-key inflammatory activity, with characteristics of an MS endophenotype (or presymptomatic trait) and that assays of MS-relevant cyto-/chemokines in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) post-IM may show a trend in this direction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We selected seven CSF cytokines (IL-1b, IL-6, YKL-40, TNF-alpha) or chemokines (IL-8, CCL2, IP-10), representing pro-inflammatory factors previously associated with MS. We assayed the CSF levels of these seven cyto-/chemokines in healthy individuals with a median follow-up time of 10 years after serologically confirmed IM (post-IM group, n = 22), and in healthy controls without a history of IM (n = 19). A group of MS patients (n = 23) were included as reference. RESULTS: The CSF levels of IP-10, YKL-40, and CCL-2 were higher in the post-IM group than in our IM unexposed controls (P = .021, .049, .028). Seven of seven cyto-/chemokine assays showed a trend in the predicted direction (P of binomial ratio = .008). However, this trend was non-significant in a multivariate test (P = .22). A power analysis indicated that similar studies including a larger cohort would be numerically realistic. CONCLUSIONS: These results do not reject the hypothesis that the established epidemiological association between IM and MS results from a stepwise inflammatory propagation from IM sequelae to an MS endophenotype (or presymptomatic trait) in a proportion of IM patients, pending confirmation with adequate power.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Levels of Interleukin-8 in Delirium, Dementia, and Cognitively Healthy Patients.

BACKGROUND: Delirium is a common and serious complication in geriatric patients. The pathophysiology of delirium is not known. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the current study was to test the hypothesis that cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of inflammatory markers at the time of spinal anesthesia for hip surgery are associated with delirium. METHODS: In total 133 hip fracture patients and 125 cognitively healthy controls undergoing elective surgery, together with 73 Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia patients, were recruited at Oslo University Hospital and Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway. Delirium was evaluated daily in hip fracture patients by the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM). Depression was evaluated by Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD). Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1beta (IL-1ß), and interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels were measured in CSF using a Mesoscale Discovery (MSD) immunoassay. RESULTS: Hip fracture patients had significantly higher IL-8 levels (p < 0.001) compared to cognitively healthy controls or patients with stable AD dementia. Furthermore, preoperative IL-8 levels were significantly higher (p = 0.013) in hip fracture patients who developed delirium (incident delirium) after surgery as compared to patients with no delirium. However, subgroup analyses showed that IL-8 levels were only significantly higher in delirium patients without dementia (p = 0.006). In contrast, depression subgroup analysis showed that IL-8 concentration was significantly higher (p = 0.002) in delirium patients with depression. Both TNF-α and IL-1ß were undetected in most patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that IL-8 levels are associated with delirium onset and that underlying depression or dementia influences IL-8 levels.

Impaired metabolism of kynurenine and its metabolites in CSF of parkinson's disease.

AIM: The kynurenine (KYN) pathway plays an important role in degrading molecules responsible for oxidative stress in the central nervous system (CNS), but can also have neurotoxic effects. Both 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK) and quinolinic acid are neurotoxic metabolites produced from this pathway. In Parkinson's disease (PD), oxidative stress is suspected to represent a key pathogenic mechanism. This study aimed to investigate the function of the KYN pathway and interactions between oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in PD. METHODS: Participants comprised 20 patients with PD and 13 controls. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of KYN and 3-HK were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with an electrochemical detector. CSF levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, and interferon (IFN)-γ were measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and results were statistically compared between PD patients and controls. RESULTS: Median CSF levels of KYN and 3-HK were 49.0 nM and 4.25 nM in PD and 30.5 nM and 1.55 nM in controls, respectively, showing significantly higher levels in PD (p < 0.05). CSF levels of measured cytokines showed that TNF-α and IL-1ß were significantly higher in PD patients than in controls. No positive correlation between 3-HK and TNF-α was seen in PD. CONCLUSION: Dysfunction of the KYN pathway may induce oxidative stress in the CNS in PD, and may also induce cytokine-mediated neuroinflammation. Functional amelioration of the KYN pathway may facilitate modification of neurodegenerative processes in PD.

Characterization of inflammatory cytokine profiles in cerebrospinal fluid of hand, foot, and mouth disease children with enterovirus 71-related encephalitis in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is an important etiological agent of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), which can also lead to severe neurological complications (eg, encephalitis) in young children. Although a series of reports on EV71 infection have been published, the pathogenic mechanism of EV71 infection is still not fully understood.We evaluated the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-8, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and IL-12p70 in 88 children with EV71-related encephalitis and 19 children with febrile convulsion (FC) with the use of commercial cytometric bead array kits.The levels of IL-8, IL-1ß, IL-6, and IL-10 in CSF were significantly higher in encephalitis group when compared with those observed in FC group, while no significant changes were noted in the levels of TNF-α and IL-12p70. In addition, significant and positive correlations among CSF IL-8, IL-1ß, IL-6, and IL-10 were observed in encephalitis group. Furthermore, receiver operator characteristic analysis determined a cut-off value of 10.62 pg/mL for IL-6 to discriminate encephalitis patients from FCs with the sensitivity and specificity of 89.8% and 84.2%, respectively. Moreover, logistic regression analyses revealed that IL-6 was an independent predictor of EV71-related encephalitis (odds ratio = 23.241, P < .001).Our results indicate that 4 inflammatory cytokines (IL-8, IL-1ß, IL-6, and IL-10) play important roles in the pathogenesis of EV71 infection. IL-6 may be used for the evaluation of EV71-related encephalitis and as a potential therapy candidate for EV71 infection.

Double deficiency of toll-like receptors 2 and 4 alters long-term neurological sequelae in mice cured of pneumococcal meningitis.

Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 and 4 signalling pathways are central to the body's defence against invading pathogens during pneumococcal meningitis. Whereas several studies support their importance in innate immunity, thereby preventing host mortality, any role in protecting neurological function during meningeal infection is ill-understood. Here we investigated both the acute immunological reaction and the long-term neurobehavioural consequences of experimental pneumococcal meningitis in mice lacking both TLR2 and TLR4. The absence of these TLRs significantly impaired survival in mice inoculated intracerebroventricularly with Streptococcus pneumoniae. During the acute phase of infection, TLR2/4-deficient mice had lower cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of interleukin-1ß, and higher interferon-γ, than their wild-type counterparts. After antibiotic cure, TLR2/4 double deficiency was associated with aggravation of behavioural impairment in mice, as shown by diurnal hypolocomotion throughout the adaptation phases in the Intellicage of TLR-deficient mice compared to their wild-type counterparts. While TLR2/4 double deficiency did not affect the cognitive ability of mice in a patrolling task, it aggravated the impairment of cognitive flexibility. We conclude that TLR2 and TLR4 are central to regulating the host inflammatory response in pneumococcal meningitis, which may mediate diverse compensatory mechanisms that protect the host not only against mortality but also long-term neurological complications.

Evans Blue Reduces Neuropathic Pain Behavior by Inhibiting Spinal ATP Release.

Upon peripheral nerve injury, vesicular ATP is released from damaged primary afferent neurons. This extracellular ATP subsequently activates purinergic receptors of the spinal cord, which play a critical role in neuropathic pain. As an inhibitor of the vesicular nucleotide transporter (VNUT), Evans blue (EB) inhibits the vesicular storage and release of ATP in neurons. Thus, we tested whether EB could attenuate neuropathic pain behavior induced by spinal nerve ligation (SNL) in rats by targeting VNUT. An intrathecal injection of EB efficiently attenuated mechanical allodynia for five days in a dose-dependent manner and enhanced locomotive activity in an SNL rat model. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that EB was found in VNUT immunoreactivity on neurons in the dorsal root ganglion and the spinal dorsal horn. The level of ATP in cerebrospinal fluid in rats with SNL-induced neuropathic pain decreased upon administration of EB. Interestingly, EB blocked ATP release from neurons, but not glial cells in vitro. Eventually, the loss of ATP decreased microglial activity in the ipsilateral dorsal horn of the spinal cord, followed by a reduction in reactive oxygen species and proinflammatory mediators, such as interleukin (IL)-1ß and IL-6. Finally, a similar analgesic effect of EB was demonstrated in rats with monoiodoacetate-induced osteoarthritis (OA) pain. Taken together, these data demonstrate that EB prevents ATP release in the spinal dorsal horn and reduces the ATP/purinergic receptor-induced activation of spinal microglia followed by a decline in algogenic substances, thereby relieving neuropathic pain in rats with SNL.

Association of TLR4 with Alzheimer's disease risk and presymptomatic biomarkers of inflammation.

INTRODUCTION: A coding variant in the TLR4 receptor (rs4986790), previously associated with longevity and Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk reduction, was examined in a population isolate (Québec Founder Population [QFP]) and in presymptomatic individuals with a parental history of AD (Pre-Symptomatic Evaluation of Novel or Experimental Treatment for Alzheimer's Disease [PREVENT-AD]). METHODS: Genotyping was performed using the Illumina HumanHap 550k (QFP) and the Illumina Omni2.5 beadchips (PREVENT-AD). Cognition was assessed using the Repeatable Battery for Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). Whole-brain cortical thickness data were analyzed using CIVET 1.12. Cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of cytokines were obtained by using Milliplex. RESULTS: The minor allele of the rs4986790 polymorphism (G) is associated with a reduced risk of developing AD in the QFP, as well as higher visuospatial and constructional abilities, higher cortical thickness in visual-related regions, and stable cerebrospinal fluid IL-1ß levels in the PREVENT-AD cohort. DISCUSSION: The rs4986790 G coding variant in the TLR4 gene appears to reduce AD risk through the modulation of IL-1ß synthesis and secretion in the presymptomatic phase of the disease.

Evaluation of IL-1ß levels in epilepsy and traumatic brain injury in dogs.

BACKGROUND: Epilepsy is a common neurological disease in dogs affecting approximately 0.6-0.75% of the canine population. There is much evidence of neuroinflammation presence in epilepsy, creating new possibilities for the treatment of the disease. An increased expression of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß) was reported in epileptogenic foci. We hypothesized that there is an elevation of IL-1ß in serum and CSF of dogs with epilepsy, as well as in serum of dogs with TBI, reflecting involvement of this cytokine in pathophysiology of naturally occurring canine epilepsy in a clinical setting. RESULTS: IL-1ß levels were evaluated in CSF and serum of six healthy and 51 dogs with epilepsy (structural and idiopathic). In 16 dogs with TBI, only serum was tested. IL-1ß concentrations in CSF were not detectable. Serum values were not elevated in dogs with TBI in comparison to healthy controls (p > 0.05). However, dogs with epilepsy had increased levels of IL-1ß in serum (p = 0.003) regardless of the underlying cause of the disease (p = 0.0045). There was no significant relationship between the variables and IL-1ß levels. Statistically noticeable (p = 0.0630) was that approximately 10% of dog with epilepsy (R2 = 0.105) had increased seizure frequency and IL-1ß elevation. CONCLUSION: Increased IL-1ß levels were detected in the peripheral blood in dogs with idiopathic and structural epilepsy leading to the assumption that there is an involvement of inflammation in pathophysiology of epilepsy which should be considered in the search for new therapeutic strategies for this disease. However, to better understand the pathogenic role of this cytokine in epilepsy, further evaluation of IL-1ß in brain tissue is desired.

Effects of Parecoxib on Pain Threshold and Inflammatory Factors IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-𝜶 in Spinal Cord of Rats with Bone Cancer Pain.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of parecoxib on pain threshold and inflammatory factors interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in spinal cord of rats with bone cancer pain. STUDY DESIGN: An experimental study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, China, from March 2017 to May 2018. METHODOLOGY: Twenty-four healthy female Sprague-Dawley rats were selected and the bone cancer pain model was inoculated with W256 breast cancer cell into the bone marrow. Rats with bone cancer pain were randomly divided into the model group and the parecoxib group on the 7th day postoperation, with 12 rats in each group. Another 12 rats were taken as the control group. Rats in the parecoxib group were given intraperitoneal injection of parecoxib (8 mg/kg) for 10 consecutive days since the 15th day after operation. Mechanical pain threshold, thermal pain threshold, and the levels of inflammatory factors IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α in spinal cord of rats in each group were compared. RESULTS: On the 14th postoperative day, mechanical pain threshold and thermal pain threshold of rats in the model group and the parecoxib group were significantly decreased compared with those in the control group (p<0.001). After 5 and 10 days of administration, mechanical and thermal pain threshold of rats in the parecoxib group were significantly higher than those in the model group and the control group (p<0.001). After 10 days of administration, levels of IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α in spinal cord of the model group were higher than those of the control group (p<0.001); and levels of IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α in spinal cord of the parecoxib group were significantly lower than those in the model group and the control group (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Parecoxib can alleviate hyperalgesia in rats with bone cancer pain, increase pain threshold and inhibit the up-regulation of inflammatory factors in the spinal cord. Parecoxib may achieve analgesic effects by down-regulating the expression of IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α in the spinal cord.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-1 beta levels in cerebrospinal fluid examination for the diagnosis of ventriculoperitoneal shunt-related ventriculitis.

PURPOSE: Ventriculitis is known to develop after chronic inflammation and bacterial invasion of the ventricular surface with a recurrence of shunt infections. The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic value of elevation in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) together with CSF culture and laboratory test results in the diagnosis of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt-related ventriculitis, which is known to be more problematic than conventional shunt infection. METHODS: The study included a total of 34 patients with a VP shunt due to hydrocephalus, who presented with a headache, fever, and shunt infection at the Emergency Department and had a pre-diagnosis of ventriculitis. Nineteen patients were diagnosed with shunt-related infection or ventriculitis using the CSF obtained from the shunt pump. The IL-1ß and TNF-α levels from the CSF samples of all patients were measured using the Micro ELISA immunoassay method. RESULTS: CSF direct microscopic observation revealed that the mean cell count, IL-1ß level, CRP level, and blood leukocyte level were higher in patients with ventriculitis compared to those diagnosed with shunt infection (p = 0.02, p = 0.009, p = 0.004, and p = 0.009, respectively). The probability of predicting positive culture outcome was 92.7% with 90.9% sensitivity and 82.6% specificity when IL-1ß values exceeded 4.0 pg/ml. TNF-α values did not show a significant, reliable pattern compared to IL-1ß. CONCLUSIONS: IL-1ß is a reliable parameter which shall be used in the diagnosis of ventriculitis by predicting positive culture outcome with high sensitivity and specificity.

JM-20 Treatment After MCAO Reduced Astrocyte Reactivity and Neuronal Death on Peri-infarct Regions of the Rat Brain.

Stroke is frequently associated with severe neurological decline and mortality, and its incidence is expected to increase due to aging population. The only available pharmacological treatment for cerebral ischemia is thrombolysis, with narrow therapeutic windows. Efforts aimed to identify new therapeutics are crucial. In this study, we look into plausible molecular and cellular targets for JM-20, a new hybrid molecule, against ischemic stroke in vivo. Male Wistar rats were subjected to 90 min middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) following 23 h of reperfusion. Animals treated with 8 mg/kg JM-20 (p.o., 1 h after reperfusion) showed minimal neurological impairment and lower GABA and IL-1ß levels in CSF when compared to damaged rats that received vehicle. Immunocontent of pro-survival, phosphorylated Akt protein decreased in the cortex after 24 h as result of the ischemic insult, accompanied by decreased number of NeuN+ cells in the peri-infarct cortex, cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) and dentate gyrus (DG) areas. Widespread reactive astrogliosis in both cortex and hippocampus (CA1, CA3, and DG areas) was observed 24 h post-ischemia. JM-20 prevented the activated Akt reduction, neuronal death, and astrocytes reactivity throughout the brain. Overall, the results reinforce the pharmacological potential of JM-20 as neuroprotective agent and provide important evidences about its molecular and cellular targets in this model of cerebral ischemia.

Elevated inflammatory cytokine expression in CSF from patients with symptomatic thoracic disc herniation correlates with increased pain scores.

BACKGROUND: The pathophysiology of pain in patients with symptomatic thoracic disc herniation (TDH) remains poorly understood. Mere mechanical compression of the spinal cord and/or the exiting nerve root by a prolapsed disc cannot explain the pathogenesis of pain in all cases. Previous studies report a direct correlation between the levels of proinflammatory cytokines in disc biopsies and the severity of leg pain in patients with lumbar disc herniation. A similar correlation in patients with TDH has not been investigated. PURPOSE: To correlate the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) expression of cytokines and pain-related amino acids with preoperative pain scores in patients with symptomatic TDH. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective human study of CSF samples and clinical outcome scores. METHODS: Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), we determined inflammatory cytokine levels (TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-10) and amino acid levels (glutamate, aspartate, gamma-aminobutyric acid, glycine, and arginine) in CSF samples from 10 patients with TDH and 10 control subjects who did not suffer an inflammatory disease nor pain related to spinal cord compression and subsequently correlated these levels with preoperative pain scores. Differences between both groups were evaluated by a Mann-Whitney U test. In order to estimate the correlation between cytokine or amino acid expression and pain scores, data were analyzed using a linear regression analysis. RESULTS: No inflammatory cytokines were found in CSF samples from control subjects, whereas TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-10 were detectable by ELISA in all CSF samples from patients with TDH. TNF-α and IL-10 but not IL-1ß levels moderately correlated with preoperative pain scores. Elevated TNF-αlevels positively correlated with high pain scores; elevated IL-10 levels negatively correlated with high pain scores. Amino acids were detectable in all samples from both groups. There were no significant differences between the groups in any of the amino acids measured with HPLC. CONCLUSION: Increased proinflammatory cytokine expression is associated with elevated pain scores in patients with symptomatic TDH. On the other hand, there is no conclusive correlation between the intensity of pain and the local or systemic presence of amino acids associated with pain transmission.