One of the most common adverse event of interferon beta (IFNβ) therapy for multiple sclerosis is flu-like syndrome (FLS), which has been reportedly related to increased levels of cytokines such as interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α).
Fish oil is claimed to improve outcome in multiple sclerosis (MS) through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects by reducing cytokines including TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL6, and IL-1β.
Together, these data demonstrate that these novel small molecule IL-6 inhibitors have the potential to shift the T<sub>eff</sub> : T<sub>reg</sub> balance, which may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for ameliorating disease progression in MS.
The course of MS is associated with the secretion of many inflammatory and oxidative stress mediators, including cytokines (IL-1b, IL-6, IL-17, TNF-α, INF-γ) and chemokines (MIP-1a, MCP-1, IP10).
Finally, we examined the correlation between the CSF levels of IL-6 at the time of diagnosis and the prospective disease activity in a cohort of 150 RR-MS patients.
The concentration of sCD27 was higher in the NMO group than in the MS (p = 0.082) and CTL (p = 0.002) groups, and there was a positive correlation with CSF IL-6 (p = 0.000) and a negative correlation with IL-10 (p = 0.073).
These data demonstrate that astrocyte-derived IL-6 is a key mediator of progressive disease and support IL-6 blockade as a viable intervention strategy to combat progressive MS.
Nonapoptotic and extracellular activity of granzyme B mediates resistance to regulatory T cell (Treg) suppression by HLA-DR-CD25hiCD127lo Tregs in multiple sclerosis and in response to IL-6.
Taking these data together, we conclude that IL-6 secretion is a major mechanism of B cell-driven pathogenesis in T cell-mediated autoimmune disease such as EAE and MS.
Taken together, our data indicate an important role for miR26a in maintaining the Th17 and Treg cell balance in MS that involves repression of IL6 expression.
The results corroborate a pro-inflammatory state in MS as reflected by high expression of IL-12, TNF-alpha and IL-6, although the extent of expression of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IDO differs between strictly matched MS patients from different high-incidence areas.
In NMOSD, CSF sCD40L levels were significantly increased compared to DCs, and were correlated to Qalb, CSF cell counts, protein concentrations, and interleukin-6 levels. sCD40L could be involved in BBB disruption in MS, whereas it may contribute to CNS inflammation in NMOSD.
No association of serum levels of interleukin-6 and its soluble receptor components with a genetic variation in the 3'flanking region of the interleukin-6 gene in patients with multiple sclerosis.
Results showed that: 1) CD19+/TNFα+, CD19+/IL-12+ and CD19+/IFNγ+ lymphocytes are significantly increased in primary progressive (PP) compared to secondary progressive (SP), relapsing-remitting (RR), benign (BE) MS and HC; 2) CD19+/IL-6+ lymphocytes are significantly increased in PP, SP and RR compared to BEMS and HC; and 3) CD19+/IL-13+, CD19+/IL-10+, and CD19+/IL-10+/TGFβ+ (Bregs) B lymphocytes are reduced overall in MS patients compared to HC.
Furthermore, the production of IL-17 and IL-6 by MS-derived T cells was directly related with neurological disability (EDSS score), and the release of these cytokines was less sensitive to glucocorticoid inhibition in MS patients than in control group, mainly after DA addition.