This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Flachenecker, P. Articles by Rieckmann, P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Flachenecker, P. Articles by Rieckmann, P. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Cytokine mRNA expression in patients with multiple sclerosis and fatigue

Department of Neurology, Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 11, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany, peter.flachenecker{at}surfeu.de

Irene Bihler

Department of Neurology, Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 11, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany

F Weber

Max-Planck-Institute for Psychiatrie, Neurology Section, Munich, Germany

M Gottschalk

Max-Planck-Institute for Psychiatrie, Neurology Section, Munich, Germany

Klaus V Toyka

Department of Neurology, Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 11, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany

Peter Rieckmann

Department of Neurology, Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 11, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany

Background: Fatigue is one of the most common disabling symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), but the putative role of proinflammatory cytokines remains to be elucidated. Methods: Thirty-seven patients (27 women, 10 men) with relapsing-remitting (n =29) and secondary progressive (n =8) MS, aged 41.0 ± 10.2 years, were studied. Fatigue was assessed by Krupp’s Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). C ytokine mRNA expression for interferon (IFN)-g, tumor necro sis factor (TNF)-a and interleukin (IL)-10 were measured by real time RT PC R. A utonomic function was evaluated by standard tests for parasympathetic and sympathetic function, as well as by serum levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine. Results: Median levels of TNF-a mRNA expression were significantly higher in MS patients with (FSS]-4.0 and]-5.0, n=26 and n=14, respectively) than in those without fatigue (FSSB-4.0, n =11). No differences were seen for IFN-g and IL-10 mRNA expression. C ytokine levels were not correlated to autonomic tests or to serum catecho lamine levels. Conclusions: These results suggest that TNF-a, as a principal proinflammatory mediator, is associated with MS-related fatigue. This is in support of a patho genic role of the MS-related inflammatory process in the development of fatigue.

Key Words: autonomic dysfunction • cytokines • fatigue • multiple sclerosis • RNA • messenger

Multiple Sclerosis, Vol. 10, No. 2, 165-169 (2004)
DOI: 10.1191/1352458504ms991oa


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. Kos, E. Kerckhofs, G. Nagels, M.B. D'hooghe, and S. Ilsbroukx Origin of Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis: Review of the Literature Neurorehabil Neural Repair, February 1, 2008; 22(1): 91 - 100. [Abstract] [PDF]

				N. Tellez, M. Comabella, E v. Julia, J. Rio, M a. Tintore, L. Brieva, C. Nos, and X. Montalban Fatigue in progressive multiple sclerosis is associated with low levels of dehydroepiandrosterone Multiple Sclerosis, August 1, 2006; 12(4): 487 - 494. [Abstract] [PDF]

				G Giovannoni Multiple sclerosis related fatigue J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, January 1, 2006; 77(1): 2 - 3. [Full Text] [PDF]

				C Heesen, L Nawrath, C Reich, N Bauer, K-H Schulz, and S M Gold Fatigue in multiple sclerosis: an example of cytokine mediated sickness behaviour? J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, January 1, 2006; 77(1): 34 - 39. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Heesen, G. Koehler, R. Gross, W. Tessmer, K.-H. Schulz, and S. M Gold Altered cytokine responses to cognitive stress in multiple sclerosis patients with fatigue Multiple Sclerosis, February 1, 2005; 11(1): 51 - 57. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. Gottschalk, T. Kumpfel, P. Flachenecker, M. Uhr, C. Trenkwalder, F. Holsboer, and F. Weber Fatigue and Regulation of the Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis in Multiple Sclerosis Arch Neurol, February 1, 2005; 62(2): 277 - 280. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]