Role of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and IFN-γ in pathogenesis of central nervous system neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematous

We discussed the role of IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8 and IFN-gamma in the pathogenesis of central nervous system neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematous (CNS-NPSLE). Serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples were collected from CNS-NPSLE patients, non-CNS SLE patients, patients with intracranial infection and normal subjects. Levels of IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8 and IFN-gamma in serum and cerebrospinal fluid were detected by ELISA, and the results were compared across the groups. All subjects received cerebral MRI. The risk threshold for each cytokine in CNS-NPSLE group was set as 2.5%. The positive rates of cytokines for different lesions in cerebral MRI findings in CNS-NPSLE group were compared. The correlations between cytokine levels and cerebral MRI findings were analyzed. All groups did not show significant differences in age and gender (F=1.34, P>0.05; x(2)=2.05, P>0.05); The IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8 and IFN-gamma levels of serum and cerebrospinal fluid in CNS-NPSLE group were obviously higher than those of the normal control (serum Z(14)=6.22, 6.04, 6.22, 5.70; cerebrospinal fluid Z(14)=6.38, 7.10, 6.97, 6.34, P<0.0083); IL-1 beta, IL-6 and IL-8 levels of cerebrospinal fluid of CNS-NPSLE group were higher than those of the non-CNS SLE group (Z(12)=2.73, Z(12)=3.18, Z(12)=3.86; P<0.0083); IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8 and IFN-gamma levels of cerebrospinal fluid of CNS-NPSLE group were higher than those of the serum (Z=3.19, 6.30, 5.44, 3.19, P< 0.05); IL-6>20.0679 pg/ml and IL-8>87.1811 pg/ml in the cerebrospinal fluid predicted a higher risk of CNS-NPSLE (x(2)=11.98, P<0.05; x(2)=4.65, P<0.05); The positive rates of IL-1 beta and IL-6 in the cerebrospinal fluid of CNS-NPSLE patients with demyelinating diseases were considerably higher than those of CNS-NPSLE patients with normal MRI findings (x(2)=10.89, P<0.005; x(2)=18.47, P<0.005). The positive rates of IL-6 and IFN-gamma in the cerebrospinal fluid of CNS-NPSLE patients presenting with multiple ischemic foci were significantly higher than those with normal MRI findings (x(2)=5.56, P<0.005; x(2)=14.59, P<0.005). Some cytokines are involved in the pathogenesis of CNS-NPSLE and correlated with cerebral MRI findings in CNS-NPSLE.