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Oxidative stress in patients with clinically mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion

Rie Miyata1, Naoyuki Tanuma, Masaharu Hayashi

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Tokyo-Kita Social Insurance Hospital, Kita-ku, Tokyo, Japan. rie88miyata@ybb.ne.jp

Brain & Development
|May 18, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Oxidative stress, indicated by increased 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), appears involved in mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS). Cytokine increases may also contribute to MERS lesion distribution.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Neuroscience
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS) is a rare neurological condition.
  • The underlying pathophysiology of MERS, particularly the role of oxidative stress and inflammation, remains incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate oxidative stress markers, tau protein, and cytokine levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of MERS patients.
  • To explore the potential relationship between these biomarkers and MERS lesion characteristics.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of CSF samples from six MERS patients.
  • Measurement of 8-hydroxy-2 -deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), hexanoyl-lysine adducts, IL-6, IL-10, tau protein, and neuron-specific enolase (NSE).

Main Results:

  • Elevated CSF 8-OHdG levels, a marker of DNA oxidative stress, were found in four out of six MERS patients.
  • Increased CSF IL-6 and IL-10 levels were observed in three patients, with two showing extended white matter lesions.
  • CSF tau protein and NSE levels, markers of axonal damage, were not elevated.

Conclusions:

  • Findings suggest a significant involvement of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of MERS.
  • Elevated cytokine production may play a role in the distribution of white matter lesions in MERS.
  • Systemic metabolic imbalances could potentially facilitate oxidative stress and reversible white matter lesions in MERS.

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