Reduced cerebrospinal fluid levels of interleukin-10 in children with febrile seizures

Abstract

Purpose: The exact etiology of febrile seizures (FS) is still unclear. However, it is thought that cytokine network activation may have a causative role. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the levels of interleukin-12 (IL-12) as a proinflammatory cytokine, interleukin-10 (IL-10) as an anti-inflammatory cytokine, and interferon-beta (IFN-beta), a marker of toll-like receptor-3 activation as a host response to viruses. These cytokine levels were analyzed in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of children after a FS. Methods: With the approval of the Human Research Ethics Committee, 76 patients with FS, who underwent lumbar puncture (LP) for the exclusion of central nervous system (CNS) infection, and who didn't have CSF pleocytosis, were included in the study. The control group consisted of 10 patients with similar ages, with an acute febrile illness and who required LP to exclude CNS infection. The analyses were made by the enzyme linked immunoassay method. Results: Age, gender distribution and CSF IL-12 and IFN-beta levels did not differ, but CSF IL-10 levels were significantly lower in the FS group as compared to the control group (0.78 +/- 4.5 pg/ml, versus 27 +/- 29 pg/ml, p < 0.0001). Conclusion: The low-level of CSF IL-10, considering its anti-inflammatory properties, may play a role in the etiopathogenesis of FS.