Effects of hemispheric lateralization and site specificity on immune alterations induced by kindled temporal lobe...

The effects of kindled seizures elicited from sites in the left and right temporal lobes on mitogen-induced proliferation (LPS, Con A, PHA) and induction of representative TH1 (IFN-gamma) and TH2 (IL-10, IL-4) cytokines were determined in activated rat splenocytes. With reference to cell proliferation, the changes depended on the hemispheric side and location of kindling. Kindling of the left side mediated significant increase in cell proliferation by LPS. Left side kindling resulted in decreased cell proliferation by PHA. Although right side kindling showed no change when taken together, further analysis showed that the reduced proliferation by PHA was mediated when the pyriform cortex was kindled with no change from amygdaloid nuclei. Similar hemispheric polarization was observed in the production of IL-10 and IFN-gamma by Con A-stimulated splenocytes in left side kindled rats. Hence, kindled temporal lobe seizures induced changes in specific immune functions. These effects are not only lateralized but are also specific with respect to the particular region kindled. Since epileptic patients have altered immune functions, this report contributes to our understanding of this complex immune-brain cross-talk in epilepsy.