Increased Il-8 Levels in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

• Published in: European journal of inflammation Vol. 7; no. 1; pp. 39 - 44
• Main Authors: Mennini, T., Giordano, L., Mengozzi, M., Ghezzi, P., Tonelli, R., Mantegazza, R., Silani, V., Corbo, M., Lunetta, C., Beghi, E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.01.2009; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC; SAGE Publishing
• Subjects: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Chemokines; Parkinson's disease; chemokines; IL-8; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; CXCR2; cerebro spinal fluid
• ISSN: 2058-7392; 1721-727X; 2058-7392
• DOI: 10.1177/1721727X0900700105

Inflammation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative diseases. The chemokine IL-8 is thought to have a pathophysiological role in neurodegenerative diseases. IL-8 has recently been shown to induce death of primary cultured motor neurons in vitro. We determined IL-8 levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 38 patients with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) compared to patients with other non-inflammatory neurological diseases (cerebrovascular disease, degenerative dementia, Parkinson's disease, compressive radiculo-myelopathy). Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients were used as positive controls. The levels of IL-8 in the CSF of ALS patients were significantly higher than those of patients with other, non-inflammatory neurological conditions and similar to those of MS patients. The only variable influencing IL-8 in ALS patients was sex, with higher levels in men than in women. The presence of the inflammatory cytokine IL-8 in the CSF of patients with ALS at the time of diagnosis strengthens the hypothesis of a role for this chemokine in neurodegenerative disorders.