Cerebrospinal fluid cytokine responses in human eosinophilic meningitis associated with angiostrongyliasis

Abstract

The levels of interleukin 5 (IL5), IL10, and IL13 in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were markedly higher in 30 patients with eosinophilic meningitis associated with angiostrongyliasis (EOMA) than in the controls (P<0.001). IL2, IL4, interferon gamma (IFNgamma), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) levels were not significantly different (P>0.05). IL5, IL10, and TNFalpha levels correlated with eosinophil levels (P=0.023, P=0.018, and P=0.005, respectively) while IL2, IL4, IL13, and IFNgamma did not (P>0.05). Our data suggest that local T-helper-2 (TH2) cytokine responses are predominant in the CSF of patients with EOMA. Data on T lymphocyte-parasite interactions are important for the design of effective vaccines and immunotherapies. The measurement of T-helper-1 (TH1)/TH2 cytokines in the CSF may also have some potential for the diagnosis of parasite associated meningitis.