Cytokines and chemokines profile in encephalitis patients: A meta-analysis

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 17; no. 9; p. e0273920
• Main Authors: Soltani Khaboushan, Alireza, Pahlevan-Fallahy, Mohammad-Taha, Shobeiri, Parnian, Teixeira, Antônio L, Rezaei, Nima
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 01.09.2022; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Biology and Life Sciences; Biomarkers; Cerebrospinal fluid; Chemokines; Chemokines - cerebrospinal fluid; CXCL10 protein; CXCL13 protein; Cytokines; Diagnosis; Electroencephalography; Encephalitis; Gene expression; Health aspects; Herpes viruses; Heterogeneity; Humans; Infectious diseases; Interferon; Interleukin 10; Interleukin 17; Interleukin 2; Interleukin 4; Interleukin 6; Interleukin 8; Magnetic resonance imaging; Medical ethics; Medicine and Health Sciences; Meta-analysis; Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1; Nervous system; Pathogens; Physical Sciences; Plasma; Plasma levels; Research and Analysis Methods; Science Policy; Sensitivity analysis; Subgroups; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Tumor necrosis factor-α; γ-Interferon; Iran
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273920

Encephalitis is caused by autoimmune or infectious agents marked by brain inflammation. Investigations have reported altered concentrations of the cytokines in encephalitis. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between encephalitis and alterations of cytokine levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum. We found possibly suitable studies by searching PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science, systematically from inception to August 2021. 23 articles were included in the meta-analysis. To investigate sources of heterogeneity, subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were conducted. The protocol of the study has been registered in PROSPERO with a registration ID of CRD42021289298. A total of 23 met our eligibility criteria to be included in the meta-analysis. A total of 12 cytokines were included in the meta-analysis of CSF concentration. Moreover, 5 cytokines were also included in the serum/plasma concentration meta-analysis. According to the analyses, patients with encephalitis had higher CSF amounts of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, CXCL10, and TNF-α than healthy controls. The alteration in the concentration of IL-2, IL-4, IL-17, CCL2, CXCL9, CXCL13, and IFN-γ was not significant. In addition, the serum/plasma levels of the TNF-α were increased in encephalitis patients, but serum/plasma concentration of the IL-6, IL-10, CXCL10, and CXCL13 remained unchanged. This meta-analysis provides evidence for higher CSF concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, CXCL10, and TNF-α in encephalitis patients compared to controls. The diagnostic and prognostic value of these cytokines and chemokines should be investigated in future studies.