Granzyme A Participates in the Pathogenesis of Infection-Associated Acute Encephalopathy

The present study aimed to determine whether granzymes are implicated in the pathogenesis of infection-associated acute encephalopathy (AE).

We investigated granzyme and cytokine levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with acute encephalopathy or complex febrile seizures (cFS). A total of 24 acute encephalopathy patients and 22 complex febrile seizures patients were included in the present study. Levels of granzymes A and B were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin 1β (IL-1β), IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA), IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were assessed using the Bio-Plex suspension array system.

Cerebrospinal fluid levels of granzyme A were significantly higher, and those of TNF-α and IL-1RA were significantly lower in the AE group than in the cFS group; however, no significant differences in the levels of granzyme B, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were observed between the 2 groups. In addition, no significant differences in granzyme A, granzyme B, or cytokine levels were observed between acute encephalopathy patients with and those without neurologic sequelae.

Our findings indicate the involvement of granzyme A in the pathogenesis of acute encephalopathy.