Evaluation of gelatinases and IL‐6 in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with optic neuritis, multiple sclerosis and other inflammatory neurological diseases

Abstract

The activities of the metalloproteinase gelatinase B, and the presence of IL-6, an inducer of metalloproteinase inhibitors, were investigated in CSF samples of 190 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS; n = 55), optic neuritis (ON; n = 46), other inflammatory neurological diseases (OIND; n = 27) or control patients (CON) with non-inflammatory neurological diseases (n = 62). IL-6, measurable as hybridoma growth factor activity (detection limit 3 pg/ml), was found in only four of these 190 CSF samples (three OIND, one CON). Elevated CSF gelatinase B levels were detected in 40%, 35% and 54% of the patients with MS, ON and OIND, respectively, while all control CSFs were devoid of gelatinase B activity. Clinical and laboratory data were compared with gelatinase B levels. No correlation was found between the CSF cytoses and gelatinase B levels, suggesting that this enzyme in the CSF originates from CNS lesions rather than from CSF cells. However, the occurrence of the gelatinase B significantly correlated with the IgG index in the MS patient group. This study stimulates further investigation into the possible usage of protease inhibition in demyelinating diseases.