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Alterations of Plasma Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Levels in Children with Refractory Epilepsies

Tatia Gakharia1, Sophia Bakhtadze1, Ming Lim2,3

  • 1Department of Childs Neurology, Tbilisi State Medical University, 0186 Tbilisi, Georgia.

Children (Basel, Switzerland)
|October 27, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Inflammation plays a key role in paediatric epilepsy, particularly drug-resistant forms. Elevated eotaxin (CCL11) levels correlate with increased seizure frequency, suggesting a link between inflammation and epilepsy severity.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Paediatrics

Background:

  • Paediatric epilepsy is a complex neurological disorder, with up to 30% of cases being drug-resistant.
  • Inflammatory and neuronal pathways are closely linked to paediatric epilepsy, especially in drug-resistant cases and epileptic encephalopathies.
  • Cytokine imbalances and inflammatory markers like prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) are implicated in epileptogenesis and drug resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of specific chemokines (CCL2, CCL4, CCL11) and PGE2 in paediatric epilepsy.
  • To correlate serum levels of these inflammatory markers with seizure frequency and severity in controlled versus intractable childhood epilepsies.

Main Methods:

  • Serum samples were collected from children with controlled and intractable epilepsies during interictal periods.
  • Quantitative levels of chemokines (CCL2, CCL4, CCL11) and PGE2 were measured.
  • Levels were analyzed in correlation with seizure frequency and severity.

Main Results:

  • The refractory seizure group showed significantly higher concentrations of eotaxin (CCL11) compared to the controlled epilepsy group.
  • Higher CCL11 levels correlated with increased seizure frequency.
  • Elevated PGE2 levels were associated with seizure severity and overall epilepsy impact.

Conclusions:

  • Pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as eotaxin (CCL11), may contribute to epileptogenesis in children.
  • These inflammatory markers could play a role in the development of drug resistance in paediatric epilepsy.
  • Targeting neuroinflammation presents a potential therapeutic avenue for managing intractable childhood epilepsies.

Keywords:
chemokinescytokinesneuroinflammationpaediatric epilepsyrefractory seizures

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