HIGH-LEVELS OF INTERLEUKIN-10 AND TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR-ALPHA IN CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID DURING THE ONSET OF BACTERIAL-MENINGITIS

Since interleukin-10 (IL-10) controls the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and this latter cytokine has a deleterious e ffect on neuronal cells, we determined the levels of both cytokines in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from children with bacterial meningitis. Hi gh levels of IL-10 (1,164 pg/mL) and TNF-alpha (3,158 pg/mL) were dete cted in CSF from 10 children with meningitis, but these cytokines were not detectable in CSF from 12 controls. In vitro neutralization of IL -10 demonstrated that endogenously formed IL-10 is important for limit ing the production of TNF-alpha by leukocytes. We assume that IL-10 in CSF will decrease the inflammatory reaction associated with meningiti s and will result in the development of fewer sequelae because of its inhibitory effect on the production of TNF-alpha.