Effect of treatment with methylprednisolone on the serum levels of IL-12, IL-10 and CCL2 chemokine in patients with multiple sclerosis in relapse

Objectives

Interleukin-12 (IL-12), a proinflammatory cytokine produced by Th1 cells, and interleukin-10 (IL-10), a product of Th2 cells, are involved in the pathogenetic mechanisms of multiple sclerosis (MS). CCL2 chemokine expression is induced by Th2 cytokines and is decreased in MS relapse. The mechanisms responsible for the beneficial effects of IVmethylprednisolone in attacks are not clearly established and the duration of the effect of this treatment remains controversial.

Patients and methods

We measured by enzyme-like immunosorbent assay (ELISA) serum levels of IL-12, IL-10 and CCL2 before, 5 days and 1 month after the initiation of treatment with IVMP in 20 patients with MS in relapse.

Results

A significant increase of IL-10 and decrease of CCL2 serum levels was observed (p = 0.0028 and 0.045 respectively) five days after the onset of steroid treatment but not after one month. Steroid treatment had no influence in serum levels of IL-12.

Conclusions

The clinical improvement of our MS patients with relapse following the treatment with methylprednisolone may be associated with an immediate but not a long-term modification of serum levels of IL-10 and CCL2. IL-12 may not be influenced by steroid treatment.