Cytotoxic mechanisms may play a role in the local immune response in the central nervous system in neuroborreliosis

J Neuroimmunol. 2011 Mar;232(1-2):186-93. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2010.09.028. Epub 2010 Nov 5.

Abstract

Aiming to investigate the role of cytotoxic mechanisms in neuroborreliosis (NB), the cytokines IL-2, IL-7, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-15, GM-CSF and the Th17-cytokine IL-17 were analyzed in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma from NB-patients. NB-patients showed increased levels in CSF compared to controls of all analyzed cytokines except IL-15 but not in plasma. Blood lymphocytes from three NB-patients showed functional cytotoxicity in response to autologous Borrelia-infected macrophages. The findings support a role for cytotoxic mechanisms in the local immune response in NB and in addition suggest an increase of IL-17.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / immunology
  • Cytokines / blood
  • Cytokines / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Cytokines / immunology*
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / immunology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lyme Neuroborreliosis / blood
  • Lyme Neuroborreliosis / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Lyme Neuroborreliosis / immunology*
  • Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Monocytes / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Cytokines