DEFECTIVE PRODUCTION OF INTERLEUKIN-2 IN PATIENTS WITH IDIOPATHIC PARKINSONS-DISEASE

The pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) is largely unknown. Recen tly, several studies have presented evidence of an immunological dysfu nction in patients suffering from PD. We studied the immune responsive ness of patients with idiopathic PD (n = 20) by investigation of the a bility of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to produce cytokines afte r mitogenic stimulation in a whole blood assay. A group of age-related healthy blood donors served as control (n = 19). Additionally, white blood count, leukocyte differentiation and lymphocyte subtyping were p erformed. PD patients had a significantly higher neutrophil count, but analysis of T-cell subsets showed no difference between the two group s. In peripheral blood, secretion of interleukin-2 (IL-2) after mitoge nic stimulation was significantly diminished in the patients' group (p < 0.01), whereas values of IFN-alpha 2, IL-6, IFN-gamma and sIL-2R we re comparable in both groups. IL-2 production correlated negatively wi th the mean annual dose of levodopa treatment and correlated significa ntly (p < 0.002) with amantadine uptake. Analysis of sex, age, duratio n of illness and other drug intake revealed no correlation with cytoki ne release. Out findings support the view that there is a selective ab normality in the immune repertoire of peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients suffering from PD, the reasons for which need to be explored.