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Interleukin 6 production in the central nervous system during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
Author(s) -
Gijbels Koen,
van Damme Jo,
Proost Paul,
Put Willy,
Carton Herwig,
Billiau Alfons
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
european journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.272
H-Index - 201
eISSN - 1521-4141
pISSN - 0014-2980
DOI - 10.1002/eji.1830200134
Subject(s) - experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis , immunology , multiple sclerosis , inflammation , central nervous system , biology , encephalomyelitis , autoimmune disease , antibody , neuroscience
Abstract Interleukin 6 (IL6) is one of the major inflammation‐associated cytokines. Elevated serum or tissue levels of IL 6 have been reported to occur in several human diseases, including infections of the central nervous system (CNS), but not in non‐infectious CNS inflammation, e.g. multiple sclerosis. While studying experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) as an animal model for autoimmune inflammation of the CNS, we found increased IL 6 levels in the CNS of mice suffering from a lethal form of the disease. IL 6 levels in the spleens and sera were not significantly increased. These findings are indicative of local production of IL6 in the CNS during EAE, and represent the first demonstration of IL6 production in non‐infectious CNS inflammatory disease.