CYTOKINE AUTOANTIBODIES IN MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS, ASEPTIC-MENINGITIS ANDSTROKE

Background We have recently described the induction of anti-cytokine a utoantibodies during bacterial infections and autoimmune diseases as a mechanism for cytokine regulation. Methods Herein, we study the occur rence of autoantibodies to pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines in cere brospinal fluid and plasma from patients with multiple sclerosis, asep tic meningitis and stroke. Results Increased levels of autoantibodies to interferon gamma, tumour necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 4 and i nterleukin 10 were detected in both compartments of multiple sclerosis and aseptic meningitis patients. Interestingly, in cerebrospinal flui d from stroke patients, only autoantibodies to interleukin 4 and inter leukin 10, but not interferon a or tumour necrosis factor a were detec ted. No significant autoantibody levels were registered in plasma from stroke patients against all four cytokines compared with healthy cont rol subjects. The latter revealed very low autoantibody levels in plas ma and no detectable autoantibodies in cerebrospinal fluid. Conclusion s Our data show for the first time the occurrence of cytokine autoanti bodies in these diseases, but their biological significance is unclear .