IN-VIVO AND IN-VITRO IMMUNE VARIABLES IN PATIENTS WITH NARCOLEPSY ANDHLA-DR2 MATCHED CONTROLS

We investigated cytokine levels (interleukin [IL]-1 beta, IL-1ra, IL-2 , IL-6, tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-alpha, TNF-beta) in plasma and sec reted by mitogen-stimulated blood monocytes and lymphocytes; T-cell su bsets; and natural killer cell activity in patients with narcolepsy an d in human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR2 matched controls. The only sign ificant finding was higher IL-6 secretion by monocytes of patients tha n by those of the HLA-DR2-positive controls. In conclusion, we found n o major abnormalities of T-cell function in patients with narcolepsy, but slight alterations of monocyte function deserving further investig ation.