Expression analysis of cytokine coding genes in epileptic patients

Background: Epilepsy is a chronic disorder in which immune dysregulation is shown to be involved. Imbalances in the cytokine levels both in serum and brain tissue have been demonstrated in epileptic patients. Methods: In the present study, we assessed mRNA expression of TNF-α, TGF-β, IFN-γ, CXCL8,IL-1β, IL-2, 1L-4,IL-6, IL-17 and CXCL8 in blood samples of 40 epileptic patients compared with age-and sex-matched healthy controls by means of quantitative real time PCR. Results:The relative levels of CXCL8 transcripts were significantly higher in total epileptic patients compared with healthy subjects (P=0.023).Relative mRNA expression of IFN-γ was significantly higher in female patients compared with female healthy subject (P=0.048).In addition,significant correlations have been found between the mRNA levels of mentioned cytokines. Conclusion:Such imbalance between expression of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines might be implicated in the pathogenesis of epilepsy.

Keywords:

epilepsy , TNF-α , TGF-β , IFN-γ , CXCL8 , IL-1β , IL-2 , 1L-4 , IL-6 , IL-17