Increased pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with polyneuropathies

Background

Distinct cytokine expression patterns have been reported in biomaterial of patients with polyneuropathies (PNP). We investigated gene expression profiles of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of patients with neuropathies of different etiologies.

Methods

We prospectively studied 97 patients with neuropathies and compared data between diagnostic subgroups and healthy controls. Gene expression of a panel of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines was analyzed (interleukin-1 IL-1], IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor alpha TNF], IL-4, and IL-10) in PBMC samples. Furthermore, protein levels of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF were measured in supernatant of PBMC stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Results

PNP were associated with higher PBMC gene expression of IL-1 (p < 0.05), IL-2 (p < 0.05), IL-8 (p < 0.001), and TNF (p < 0.01) compared to healthy controls. Inflammatory neuropathies were associated with higher gene expression of IL-8 (p < 0.001) and TNF (p < 0.05) and lower gene expression of IL-10 (p < 0.05) compared to healthy controls. More pro-inflammatory cytokines were elevated in painful neuropathy (IL-1, IL-2 p < 0.05], IL-8 p < 0.001] and TNF p < 0.05]) than in painless neuropathy (IL-8 p < 0.01] and TNF p < 0.01]) compared to healthy controls, while IL-10 expression was higher in treatment naïve patients with painless neuropathy compared to patients with painful neuropathy (p < 0.05). Disease duration positively correlated with IL-6 gene expression (p < 0.01). Supernatant protein levels of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF did not differ between groups.

Conclusion

Systemic gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines is increased in patients with neuropathies and may be influenced by the presence of neuropathic pain.