myelin-basic-protein and Acute-Phase-Reaction

Ischemic stroke is associated with altered systemic immune responses both early after the onset and in the recovery phase. Interleukin (IL)-10, a Th2 related cytokine, has multiple effects on different cell types, including T and B lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils and mast cells. IL-4 is another Th2 cytokine that inhibits the synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines by Th1 clones. We used enzyme-linked immunospot assays to detect and enumerate blood mononuclear cells (MNC) secreting IL-10 and IL-4 spontaneously as well as after stimulation with myelin basic protein (MBP), considered to be an autoantigen of possible pathogenic importance in, for example, multiple sclerosis, to evaluate the involvement of anti-inflammatory cytokines in ischemic stroke. All patients with ischemic stroke and cerebral hemorrhage had strongly elevated numbers of IL-10 secreting blood MNC compared with healthy individuals. Numbers of MBP-reactive IL-10 secreting blood MNC were also elevated in a proportion of the patients with stroke and hemorrhage. Levels of IL-4 secreting blood MNC did not differ in ischemic stroke versus healthy individuals. The anti-inflammatory IL-10 could play a pivotal role in ischemic stroke as well as cerebral hemorrhage.

Topics: Acute-Phase Reaction; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Interleukin-10; Interleukin-4; Monocytes; Myelin Basic Protein; Stimulation, Chemical; Stroke

With a sensitive enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay that can detect as little as 0.5ng/ml of myelin basic protein (MBP), we studied serum specimens from 34 patients with chronic cor pulmonale (CP) and 33 patients with chronic bronchitis (CB) during acute attack in hospital and 30 control subjects. The results showed that the serum mean MBP level of CP patients was markedly higher than those of CB patients and controls (P < 0.01), but no statistically significant differences were found between CB patients and controls (P > 0.05). There was a positive correlation between elevated levels of serum MBP and carbon dioxide partial pressure (PaCO2). This suggested that elevated serum MBP levels may be associated with brain destruction by hypercapnia and hypoxia of CP patients.

Topics: Acute-Phase Reaction; Aged; Blood Gas Monitoring, Transcutaneous; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Humans; Male; Myelin Basic Protein; Pulmonary Heart Disease