Increased production of inflammatory cytokines by circulating monocytes in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy: A possible role in drug resistance

Abstract

We analyzed peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and serum inflammatory biomarkers in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (drug-resistant - DR, vs. drug-sensitive - DS). Patients with epilepsy showed higher levels of serum CCL2, CCL3, IL-8 and AOPP, and lower levels of FRAP and thiols compared to healthy controls (HC). Although none of the serum biomarkers distinguished DR from DS patients, when analysing intracellular cytokines after in vitro stimulation, DR patients presented higher percentages of IL-1β and IL-6 positive monocytes compared to DS patients and HC. Circulating innate immune cells might be implicated in DR epilepsy and constitute potential new targets for treatments.

Keywords: Cytokines; Drug-resistant epilepsy; Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy; Neuroinflammation; Oxidative stress; Peripheral blood mononuclear cells.