J Neurol Sci 2003 Feb 15;206(2):209-14
Petereit HF, Pukrop R, Fazekas F, Bamborschke SU, Ropele S, Kolmel
HW, Merkelbach S, Japp G, Jongen PJ, Hartung HP, Hommes OR.
Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Cologne, Josef-Stelzmann-Str.
9, D-50924, Cologne, Germany
Abnormalities in T-cell-derived cytokine production are a well-known phenomenon in multiple sclerosis (MS).
An association between disability and the production of interferon gamma has been demonstrated recently.
The present study investigated associations between disability, cytokine production in stimulated blood lymphocytes and magnetic resonance imaging data in 37 patients with the secondary progressive course in the stable phase of the disease.
Patients with high interleukin-10 (IL-10) production had significantly lower disability scores (p=0.009) and lower T2 lesion load (p=0.03).
Interleukin-10 might not only play a role in the pathological
process of multiple sclerosis but has an impact on disease outcome as well.