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Updated: Aug 10, 2026
Multiplex Cytokine Profiling of Stimulated Mouse Splenocytes Using a Cytometric Bead-based Immunoassay Platform
Published on: November 9, 2017
Comparative analysis of cytokine patterns in immunological, infectious, and oncological neurological disorders
Insights
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels can indicate disease activity in multiple sclerosis and other neuroinflammatory conditions. However, other measured interleukins and receptors are not useful for monitoring these disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Oncology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Neuroinflammatory and infectious disorders involve complex immune responses.
- Cytokine profiles in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum can reflect disease activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of various cytokines and receptors in monitoring neuroimmunologic disorders.
- To identify specific biomarkers for disease activity and relapse.
Main Methods:
- Measured Interleukins (IL)-1, 2, 4, 6, soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R), Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in CSF and serum.
- Analyzed patient cohorts with multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, HIV, meningitis, encephalitis, and malignancies.
Main Results:
- IL-1 beta, IL-2, sIL-2R, and IL-4 were not useful for monitoring disease activity.
- IL-6 indicated relapse in multiple sclerosis and active disease in Guillain-Barré syndrome and meningeal carcinomatosis.
- High CSF TNF-alpha was observed in metastatic melanoma; IL-6 and oligoclonal bands suggested intrathecal immune response in leptomeningeal neoplasia.
Conclusions:
- IL-6 is a potential biomarker for disease activity in specific neuroinflammatory and neoplastic conditions.
- Therapeutic immunomodulation may be beneficial for disseminated leptomeningeal neoplasia.
- Certain cytokines are not reliable indicators for monitoring a range of neuroimmunologic disorders.
Abstract:
Interleukins (IL) 1, 2, 4, 6 and soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured in CSF and serum from patients with relapsing-remitting and chronic multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, HIV infection, bacterial meningitis, viral encephalitis, meningeal carcinomatosis, hematologic meningeal malignancies, and disseminated melanoma. Our findings suggest that monitoring of disease activity in neuroimmunologic disorders by means of IL-1 beta, IL-2, sIL-2R, or IL-4 determination will not prove useful. IL-6, on the other hand, indicates relapse in multiple sclerosis and active disease in Guillain-Barré syndrome and meningeal carcinomatosis. High CSF TNF-alpha in metastatic melanoma and frequent detection in CSF of the multifunctional B-cell growth factor, IL-6 (27/30) and oligoclonal immunoglobulin bands (33%) in meningeal carcinomatosis confirm an intrathecal immune response in disseminated leptomeningeal neoplasia which might be amenable to therapeutic immunomodulation.
