M. Huberman

IL-2 and IL-6 secretion in dementia: correlation with type and severity of disease.

The production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) was assessed in patients with Alzheimers disease (AD) who were subdivided into two groups--mild and moderately-severe--according to the severity of the disease, probable vascular dementia (VaD) patients and elderly control subjects. No differences in IL-2 secretion were found between mild AD patients and controls. However, there was a significant increase in IL-2 production both in the moderately-severe AD group and in the VaD group. IL-6 levels in AD patients of both groups were similar and significantly higher than those of VaD and controls. Our results suggest that increased levels of IL-2-production correlate with severity of the dementia, whereas increased levels of IL-6 production seem to be related to AD and thus may play a role in AD pathogenesis.

Essential fatty acid preparation improves biochemical and cognitive functions in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis rats

This study examined the possible effects of a novel mixture of fatty acids, SR-3 (a specific ratio of alpha-linolenic acids), on brain biochemistry and on learning deficits induced by injection of an agent that induces experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. Treatment with SR-3 caused a decrease in myelin and changes in the fatty acid profile of brain synaptosomes, and a learning deficit. Eighteen days of treatment with SR-3 reversed the biochemical and learning deficit significantly, but did not restore them to normal levels. We propose that, most probably, the main action of SR-3 is the modulation of the cholesterol level, which in turn causes the modulation of the fatty acid profile and enhances learning by allowing improved neuronal communication.

β-Amyloid peptide induces tumor necrosis factor-α and nitric oxide production in murine macrophage cultures

We investigated the effect of β-amyloid peptide (βA) on the activation of the murine-derived monocyte/macrophage J774 cell-line. βA induced tumor necrotic factor-α(TNFα) in these cells in a dose-dependent manner. Incubation of cells with βA slightly increased nitric oxide (NO) production, an effect that was significantly enhanced by the addition of interferon-γ(IFNγ). Substitution of βA4 with TFNα and incubation of the cultures with IFNγ resulted in significant NO production, although this was lower than that obtained in the presence of the peptide. Incubation of cultures with a monoclonal antibody (mAb) against TNFα abrogated NO production. Our results suggest that βA4-induced TNFα production is a crucial event in the activation of peripheral macrophages.

Decreased IL-3 production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with multiple sclerosis

The production of interleukin-3 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) was assessed in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) in both the active and the stable state, and in healthy controls. IL-3 levels were compared to levels of production of interleukin-2 (IL-2), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN). No significant differences in IL-3 levels were observed between stable-state patients and controls. When levels of cytokine production of patients in the inactive phase were compared to those of the same patients during relapse a significant decrease in IL-3 levels was observed, as opposed to significant increases in gamma-IFN and TNF levels, and an increase, though a non-significant, in IL-2 levels. The functional significance of lowered IL-3 production is unknown. However, the findings support the hypothesis of a highly complex interaction of overlapping regulatory influences within the cytokine network which parallels MS disease activity.

Decreased IL-3 production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with M.S.

Symptoms and signs due to demyelination of visual snd oculomotor systenrs in multiple tclerosla (MS) W. common and well k-. However, the al= which Investigate the frequency end va!w of these various Rndings hl Crtiolqfkal diagnosis are few end did nc4 consls( 01 large populations. Thh shtdy pressnls the results of 354 MS patients (137 malo, 217 fwle) evalrphd in our neurwphthalm&gy untl and outpatknt chic of rnuiiiple sclerorb. Neurwphthalmdoglcal findings were m In 260 (73.44%) cam. Involvement of aftwent vhual system was W with logalher ,fundoseqpk and biomlcroscoplc slgrn such Is uv&ls-reUnlUr (1 .I2 U). papi(2.54 %) optic abophy and lempor~l pallor ( 52.25 )o. In &Rbn kr amaurosls (056 %), decreased vlslan (6 49 %). vhtml fiekt defer& (1.08 %) On ths dha hand. there worn nculnr motor dlsturbsnws in many pall&s md tha meal Imp&ant complnlnl due to oculomdor sys@m Invdvrm& wm dipk@t (18.35 W) .&ubmdor nerve parnlysls 13 muuliva factor hr been soan in 11 U d cam. la addltion. IN0 ma de&ted In a ratlo of 18.3 % tforlzontal and vwtial m p&e6 ( 10.4 U) woe found as a resuti 01 brainstem gaze contr, lwbns. Involunb~ ocular movements included horizontal (31 .B W). vertical ( 18 % ) r&tory ( 2.8 %) and othst types of nystagmus. DECREASED IL-3 PRODUCTION BY PERIPHERAL BLOOD MONONUCLEAR CELLS IN PATIENTS WITH M.S.