Circulating interleukin-10 and interleukin-12 in Parkinson's disease

• Published in: Acta neurologica Scandinavica Vol. 119; no. 5; pp. 332 - 337
• Main Authors: Rentzos, M., Nikolaou, C., Andreadou, E., Paraskevas, G. P., Rombos, A., Zoga, M., Tsoutsou, A., Boufidou, F., Kapaki, E., Vassilopoulos, D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.05.2009; Blackwell
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - analysis; Biomarkers - blood; Chemotaxis, Leukocyte - immunology; Cytoprotection - immunology; Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; ELISA; Encephalitis - blood; Encephalitis - immunology; Encephalitis - physiopathology; Female; Gliosis - blood; Gliosis - immunology; Gliosis - physiopathology; Humans; IL-10; IL-12; Immune Tolerance - immunology; immunological disturbances; Interleukin-10 - analysis; Interleukin-10 - blood; Interleukin-12 - analysis; Interleukin-12 - blood; l-dopa treatment; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neurology; Parkinson Disease - blood; Parkinson Disease - immunology; Parkinson Disease - physiopathology; Parkinson's disease; Phagocytes - immunology; Predictive Value of Tests; Serum; Up-Regulation - immunology; Nervous system diseases; Parkinson's disease; Cytokine; Parkinson disease; Interleukin 12; IL-12; L-dopa treatment; IL-10; Cerebral disorder; immunological disturbances; Treatment; Central nervous system disease; Interleukin 10; Serum; Degenerative disease; Dopa; ELISA assay; Extrapyramidal syndrome; ELISA
• ISSN: 0001-6314; 1600-0404; 1600-0404
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0404.2008.01103.x

Background –  Interleukin (IL)‐12 is a heterodimeric cytokine produced by activated blood monocytes, macrophages and glial cells. It enhances differentiation and proliferation of T cells and increases production of proinflammatory cytokines. IL‐10 is a pleiotropic cytokine produced by both lymphocytes and mononuclear phagocytes including microglia. Recent studies demonstrated the neuroprotective effect of IL‐10. There is little information about the involvement of IL‐12 or IL‐10 in the pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Objectives –  The objective of our study was to assess the role of IL‐12 as a potential marker of immune reactions in patients with PD and to investigate whether IL‐10, an immunosuppressive cytokine, may have a neuroprotective effect in the pathogenesis of PD. Patients and methods –  We measured using immunoassay serum IL‐12 and IL‐10 levels in 41 patients with PD in comparison with serum levels in 19 healthy subjects (controls) age and sex matched. IL‐12 and IL‐10 levels were tested for correlation with sex, age, disease duration, Hoehn and Yahr stage and the UPDRS III score. Results –  The PD group presented with significantly increased IL‐10 levels when compared with the control group (P = 0.02). The increase observed was not affected by the treatment status. A strong and significant correlation between IL‐10 and IL‐12 levels was observed in patients with PD (RS = 0.7, P < 0.000001). Conclusions –  Our findings suggest that IL‐10 may be involved in the pathogenetic mechanisms of PD. The elevation of IL‐10 and the significant correlation between IL‐10 and IL‐12, a proinflammatory cytokine, may suggest that immunological disturbances and neuroprotective mechanisms are involved in patients with PD.