| Research Abstract |
We have studied a cytokines in meningitis of childhood. A member of studies by us (Pediatr Res, 1995, 1996, and 1997; Clin. Exp Immunol, 1997) and other investigators have revealed that a variety of cytokincs play critical roles in the local inflammatory responses in meningitis. These cytokines include tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-1, 1L- 6, 1L-8, IL-10, granulocyto colony-stimulating factor, and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1 α. Anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β , inhibit the inflammatory process, but IL-4 was not detected in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Proinflammatory cytokine levels in the CSF, including IL-12, IL-I6 and IL-IR were increased al the initial stage of meningitis. In addition, soluble forms of IL-6 receptors (slL-6R and sgp I30) and E-selectin were found in the CSF of meningitis, but not a soluble form of CDI54 (CD40L). On the inflammatory' process in the CSF of meningitis, cytokines form a network which has stimulatory and inhibitory effects. Dexamethasonc treatment suppresses both proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and to dale, we cannot selectively regulate the activities of proinflammatory cytokines. To improve (he outcome of bacterial meningitis of children. continued development of new treatments for regulating the inflammatory process is obviously needed.
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