Evaluation of proinflammatory cytokine (TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IFN-gamma) concentrations in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with neuroborreliosis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Neuroborreliosis is a tick transmitted disease which becomes an increasingly frequent diagnostic and therapeutic problem in physician practice. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the concentration of proinflammatory cytokines: IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with neuroborreliosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 20 persons with diagnosed neuroborreliosis and 10 persons as a control group were examined in this study. The examination of serum and cerebrospinal fluid was performed twice, before and after 4-week therapy with antibiotics. The concentration of cytokines was measured by the ELISA method using kits of Bender Medical System and Quantikine RD Systems. RESULTS: The concentration of measured cytokines IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma in serum and cerebrospinal fluid was significantly higher before therapy. After 4-week therapy with antibiotics the concentration of cytokines in cerebrospinal fluid decreased but was still higher than in the control group except for IL-1beta. CONCLUSIONS: The detection of proinflammatory cytokine concentration in serum and cerebrospinal fluid might be helpful as another parameter monitoring the inflammation course and therapy efficacy.