Interleukin-10 may protect against progressing injury during the acute phase of ischemic stroke

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease, and ischemic stroke is one of its most common and devastating manifestations. Proinflammatory cytokines play a key role in the progression of the irreversible ischemic lesions. The presence of anti-inflammatory mediators may prevent secondary ischemic injury.

1) To assess the relationship between stroke severity and the serum levels of IL-1β, IL-2, and IL-10; and 2) To analyze the neurological outcome after 72 h of ischemic stroke onset and expression of interleukins.

We measured the serum levels of IL-1β, IL-2, and IL-10 in 26 patients with acute stroke. Neurological impairment was scored using the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale within the first 72 h after stroke onset. Thirty healthy subjects were analyzed as controls.

Patients with IL-10 <925.0 pg/mL presented with neurological deterioration within the first 72 h.

IL-10 may protect against ischemic injury during the acute phase of stroke.