Long-term effect of high doses glucocorticosteroids on mRNA expression for IL-6 and IL-8 in relapsed multiple sclerosis patients

Abstract

Glucocorticosteroids (GS) are standard treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) relapse, but no superiority of any commonly used doses is known. The aim of present study was to evaluate mRNA expression for two cytokines: IL-6 and IL-8. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid blood samples from 35 MS relapse patients were obtained before therapy, after 7, 14 days, and 3 months from treatment start (500 versus 1000 mg for 5 days). Significant neurological improvement measured with EDSS was independent to GS dose. Changes of mRNA cytokines expression were more evident in higher dose group but for IL-6 mainly in females.

Keywords:

• IL-6
• IL-8
• methylprednisolone
• mRNA expression
• multiple sclerosis

Acknowledgements

We thank Ms. Marzena Zdan for excellent technical support.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.