CYTOKINE PRODUCTION IN BLOOD MONONUCLEAR-CELLS FROM EPILEPTIC PATIENTS

Although convulsive disorders have been associated with immune abnorma lities, little is known about cytokine production in epileptic patient s. We evaluated the concentrations of interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) , interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and interleuki n-6 (IL-6) secreted by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from epileptic patients. The PBMC collected from epileptic patients, as com pared with those of a control group, showed greater production of IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, and IL-6 in response to in vitro stimulation with m itogen, There was no statistical difference among patients treated wit h different antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Significantly greater IL-2 pro duction was observed in PBMC from carbamazepine (CBZ)-treated patients as compared with both the control group or with valproate and phenoba rbital (PB)-treated patients.