Effect of methylprednisolone on T helper 17 cell related cytokines in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of methylprednisolone on T helper 17 cell（Th17 cells）related cytokines (interleukin(IL)-23,17A,21,22,6,and tansforming growth factor(TGF)-β) in serum and cerebrospinal fluid from patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis and their effects on the pathogenesis. Methods We recruited relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis group(38 patients)and non-inflammatory neurological disease group(20 controls),and detected the levels of IL-23, IL-17A, IL-21, IL-22, TGF-β and IL-6 in serum and cerebrospinal fluid （CSF） with ELISA kit in both controls and patients before and after treatment by methylprednisolone. Results After treatment in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis patients,IL-17A,IL-23,IL-21, and IL-22 levels in cerebrospinal fluid and serum were significantly decreased，however, they were still higher than that in the non-inflammatory neurological disease patients.TGF-β levels was significantly increased (serum: (17.2±5.9) pg/ml vs (34.1±6.5) pg/ml,t=14.351,P=0.000; CSF: (26.4±4.7) pg/ml vs (73.2±19.7) pg/ml,t=16.352,P=0.000).The levels of TGF-β in serum and CSF in patients before treatment were lower than those of in non-inflammatory neurological disease patients(serum: (30.2±8.9) pg/ml,t=6.769,P=0.012;CSF: (31.4±7.5) pg/ml,t=9.368,P=0.017).However, the levels of TGF-β in CSF in patients after treatment were significantly higher than those in non-inflammatory neurological disease patients(t=9.138,P=0.000). Correlation analysis showed that IL-23 and IL-17A were positive correlation in the serum of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis patients before treatment. Moreover, positive correlations among IL-23,IL-17A and IL-21 were detected in the CSF of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis patients before treatment. Conclusions Decreased levels of IL-23,IL-17A,IL-21 and IL-22,and elevated levels of TGF-β were detected in serum and CSF of patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis after methylprednisolone treatment.IL-23,IL-17A,IL-21,IL-22 and TGF-β might involve in the pathogenesis of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. Key words: Multiple sclerosis,relapsing-remitting; Methylprednisolone; T-lymphocytes,helper-inducer; Cytokines