Correlation between disability status and serum IL-2 and IFN-Γ levels and other parameters in iraqi multiple sclerosis patients

Abstract

Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative autoimmune disease that affects the white matter of the central nervous system, causing axonal demyelination. In this study, we attempted to find a correlation between the ambulatory status of MS patients and the serum IL-2 and IFN-γ levels, age, and IFN-β therapy duration, as well as the impact of IFN-β therapy on the serum levels of these cytokines in patients.Methods: Blood samples were collected from 68 MS patients and 127 healthy individuals. The patients were categorized into the premedication and postmedication groups, and divided according to the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to measure the serum IL-2 and IFN-γ levels.Results: A significantly greater IL-2 serum level was observed in the premedication patients than in the postmedication patients and controls. Patients with an EDSS score<3 showed a significantly lower serum IL-2 level than those with an EDSS score ≥3. However, while the serum IFN-γ level was significantly greater in both MS groups than in the control group, it did not show significant variation according to the EDSS score. Positive correlations were indicated between the EDSS score and the serum IL-2 level and IFN-β therapy duration, while the opposite result was recorded for the serum IFN-γ level; however, no correlations were found with the age of onset.Conclusion: The results suggest that IL-2 and IFN-γ contribute to the immunopathogenesis of MS; the degree of disability might proportionally relate to the serum IL-2 level and IFN-β therapy duration and reciprocally relate to the serum IFN-γ level. Our data suggest an immunomodulatory effect of IFN-β on serum IL-2 level but not for serum IFN-γ level in this sample of Iraqi patients.