Elevated serum level of IL-4 in neuromyelitis optica and multiple sclerosis patients

ABSTRACT

Mediators have important roles in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Interleukin 4 (IL-4) is one of the most important cytokines that has a regulatory effect on immune cells. In the current study, the serum level of IL-4 was assessed in the newly diagnosed neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and multiple sclerosis (MS) patients compared to healthy subjects. ELISA technique was used for assessment of the serum level of IL-4, and data analysis was performed by SPSS software. Serum level of IL-4 was elevated in both NMO and MS patients compared with healthy individuals (P < .001), but no statistically significant difference was identified between MS and NMO patients (P = .071). Furthermore, gender (female) and AQP4-Ab had significant impacts on the level of IL-4 in NMO patients (P < .001). These data show the crucial role of IL-4 in the pathogenesis of NMO and MS diseases. However, we suggest future studies to investigate the serum level of IL-4 in NMO and MS patients to clarify more roles of this cytokine in the pathogenesis of both diseases.

KEYWORDS:

• Interleukin-4
• enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
• neuromyelitis optica
• multiple sclerosis

Acknowledgments

This project was supported by Isfahan University of medical Sciences (ID: 293120). The authors would like to thanks Dr. Hesam Heidari for his kind helps.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Isfahan University of medical Sciences [293120];