The Expression And Clinical Significance Of Interleukin-36α In The Serum And Cerebrospinal Fluid Of Patients With Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder

Objective:The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of the interleukin(IL)-36α in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder(NMOSD)compared to patients with non-inflammatroy neurological disorders(ONNDs).At the same time,we explore the correlation between serum and CSF IL-36α levels and NMOSD disease severity.Patient and Method:73 patients with NMOSD(14 males and 59 females)were recruited from January2015 to August 2016 in the inpatient service of Department of Neurology and Neuroscience Center in the First Hospital of Jilin University.These patients were diagnosed by two neuroimmune physicians according to the new diagnostic criteria for NMOSD,all of them were clinical defined NMOSD,all NMOSD patients were evaluated EDSS score to determine nerve function defect.Besides,50 age and gender matched patients with ONNDs were recruited.All the subjects were informed of the study objective and written informed consent.1.Serum and CSF IL-36α levels were assayed by commercial ELISA(Cusabio Biotech,Wuhan,China)according to the manufacturer’s instruction.2.To analysis the correlation between serum and CSF IL-36α levels and the EDSS score as well as ARR.Result:1.Serum and CSF IL-36α levels were significantly higher in NMOSD patients compared to patients with ONNDs(p=0.0335,p=0.0003).2.Serum and CSF IL-36α levels were positively correlation with EDSS(p=0.0412,p=0.0064),However,no significant correlations between IL-36α levels and annual relapse rate(ARR)(p=0.4497,p=0.5473).Conclusion:Serum and CSF IL-36α levels were significantly higher in NMOSD patients,indicating that the pro-inflammatory cytokine may be involved in NMOSD pathophysiology.Serum and CSF IL-36α levels may be novel biomarkers for the severity of NMOSD.