Tumor necrosis factor alpha production as a possible predictor of relapse in patients with multiple sclerosis

• Published in: European cytokine network (Montrouge) Vol. 3; no. 6; p. 523
• Main Authors: Chofflon, M, Juillard, C, Juillard, P, Gauthier, G, Grau, G E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France 01.11.1992
• Subjects: Adult; Biomarkers - blood; Biomarkers - cerebrospinal fluid; Female; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents - therapeutic use; Interleukin-1 - biosynthesis; Interleukin-1 - cerebrospinal fluid; Male; Middle Aged; Multiple Sclerosis - drug therapy; Multiple Sclerosis - etiology; Multiple Sclerosis - immunology; Recurrence; Time Factors; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - biosynthesis; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - cerebrospinal fluid
• ISSN: 1148-5493

No biological parameter is currently available as a specific marker of multiple sclerosis (MS) activity. The aim of this study was to determine whether an evolution of the neurological disability is associated with a modified profile of cytokine production. Clinical disease activity was quantitated by the Kurtzke's expanded disability status scale (EDSS). Whole blood was stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) for 2 hours at 37 degrees C and the activated plasma was assayed for Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta). Relapsing-remitting MS patients enduring a relapse (RRMS, in relapse) (721 +/- 58 pg/ml, n = 27) and chronic progressive MS (CPMS) patients (516 +/- 33 pg/ml, n = 17) had an higher TNF-alpha production capacity as compared to healthy subjects (143 +/- 25 pg/ml, n = 17), RRMS, stable patients, (123 +/- 11 pg/ml, n = 26) or other neurological diseases (OND) without immunological or inflammatory disease in the peripheral immune compartment (131 +/- 24 pg/ml, n = 14) (t test: p < 0.0001). IL-1 beta production was also significantly higher but to a lesser extent in the same conditions. Concentration of TNF-alpha was also found to be significantly higher in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of CPMS patients (199 +/- 7.8 pg/ml, n = 7, p < 0.0001) but also in RRMS, in relapse (149 +/- 5.7 pg/ml, n = 11, p < 0.05) as compared to RRMS, stable (130 +/- 4.4 pg/ml, n = 7) or OND without inflammatory or immunological disease of the central nervous system (CNS) (142 +/- 6.2 pg/ml, n = 8).