SERUM INTERLEUKIN-6 AND INTERLEUKIN-6 SOLUBLE RECEPTOR IN ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE

Serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-6 soluble recepto r (IL-6sR) were measured in 41 patients (23 female and 18 male, mean a ge 72.5 years) with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and in 32 controls (14 wo men and 18 men, mean age 69.2 years) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Proportions of individuals with detectable serum IL-6 concentrations did not differ significantly between patients and cont rols. There was however, a significant decrease in IL-6sR levels in Al zheimer's patients when compared with controls. Our results suggest th at there is a dysregulation of IL-6 and its soluble receptor in AD. (C ) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.