Anti-interleukin-8 auto-antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid of children with purulent meningitis.

Abstract

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with purulent meningitis contains a high concentration of interleukin (IL)-8. Recently, the presence of anti-IL-8 auto-antibodies was noted in blood and alveolar fluid. Therefore, measurement of the concentration of anti-IL-8 auto-antibodies was attempted in CSF of children with and without meningitis. We measured the concentration of anti-IL-8 auto-antibodies in CSF of children with purulent or aseptic meningitis and those without meningitis. The CSF obtained on admission showed a significantly higher concentration of anti-IL-8 IgG and IgM auto-antibodies in children with purulent meningitis, compared with those with aseptic meningitis or without meningitis. Among the three groups of children, the concentration of IL-8 was also significantly higher in CSF of children with purulent meningitis. Because the anti-IL-8 IgG auto-antibody binds to IL-8 and inhibits IL-8 interaction with specific receptors on neutrophils, the presence of anti-IL-8 auto-antibodies seems to provide a mechanism that limits the bioavailability of free IL-8 in CSF.