IL-1β contributes to neurological disability in NMOSD AQP4 + Patients

Area of Science:

• Neuroimmunology
• Inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system
• Biomarker discovery

Background:

• Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD) is a severe CNS inflammatory condition.
• A subset of NMOSD patients possess aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibodies.
• Cytokine profiles may influence NMOSD pathogenesis, activity, and severity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytokine levels in AQP4-positive NMOSD patients.
• To assess the relationship between CSF cytokines and neurological disability.
• To compare these findings with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and non-inflammatory controls (NIC).

Main Methods:

• Recruited 64 participants: 11 NMOSD AQP4+, 29 RRMS, 24 NIC.
• Measured CSF cytokine levels using a multiplex assay.
• Analyzed group differences and cytokine-disability associations using statistical tests and regression models.

Main Results:

• NMOSD AQP4+ patients exhibited significantly higher CSF levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, G-CSF, Eotaxin, and MIP-1α compared to RRMS and NIC groups.
• CSF IL-1β levels positively correlated with neurological disability (EDSS scores) at lumbar puncture.
• This association remained significant after adjusting for age.

Conclusions:

• Pro-inflammatory cytokine expression patterns may distinguish NMOSD from RRMS.
• Elevated CSF IL-1β in NMOSD AQP4+ patients is associated with greater neurological disability.
• IL-1β may serve as a biomarker for NMOSD severity, warranting further investigation for therapeutic targeting.