Circulating interleukin-15 and RANTES chemokine in MS patients: effect of treatment with methylprednisolone in patients with relapse

Neurol Res. 2010 Sep;32(7):684-9. doi: 10.1179/016164109X12445616596247. Epub 2009 Aug 21.

Abstract

Introduction: Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a proinflammatory cytokine. RANTES is a member of the beta chemokines subfamily with strong chemoattractant activity for T lymphocytes and monocytes.

Materials and methods: We measured by enzyme-like immunosorbent assay (ELISA) serum levels of IL-15 and RANTES in 24 patients with MS in relapse, 27 patients with stable MS and 21 healthy subjects. Serum levels of IL-15 and RANTES were also measured before, 5 days and 1 month after onset of treatment with methylprednisolone i.v.

Results: IL-15 serum levels were higher in patients with relapse compared with patients in stable stage of the disease and healthy subjects (p=0.001 and p=0.008 respectively). RANTES serum levels were increased in patients with relapse and stable disease as compared to healthy subjects (p=0.01). IL-15 and RANTES levels were not decreased after treatment with corticosteroids.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest a possible role of IL-15 and RANTES in MS. Treatment with methylprednisolone in relapse had no effect on serum IL-15 and RANTES levels.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Chemokine CCL5 / blood*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-15 / blood*
  • Male
  • Methylprednisolone / therapeutic use*
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis / blood*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / drug therapy*
  • Recurrence
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Chemokine CCL5
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Interleukin-15
  • Methylprednisolone