H. Bessler et al., IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-6 and TNF-alpha production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with Parkinson's disease, BIOMED PHAR, 53(3), 1999, pp. 141-145
The capacity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients wit
h treated Parkinson's disease (PD) to produce interleukin (IL) IL-1 beta IL
-2, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and the proliferative response
to mitogens, was compared with that from cells from healthy subjects. The p
roduction of IL-2 and the mitogen response were significantly lower in PD p
atients, whereas the secretion of IL-1 beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha were signif
icantly enhanced. To evaluate the role of levodopa in creating immunologica
l alterations, PBMC of patients and controls were incubated with concentrat
ions of the drug extrapolated from those used in clinical practice. Levodop
a caused an inhibition of mitogen-induced proliferation, stimulation of IL-
6 and TNF-alpha production, whereas the secretion of IL-1 beta and IL-2 was
nor affected. The results of the study provide a further support for the i
nterrelationship between the central nervous and immune system. In addition
, the data indicate that the immunological alterations found in PD may be p
artially attributed to levodopa administration (C) 1999 Elsevier, Paris.