IL-8 in Cerebrospinal Fluid from Children with Acute Encephalopathy is Higher than in that from Children with Febrile Seizure.

We identify possible differences in the cytokine/chemokine profiles in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from children with encephalopathy and febrile seizure. Interleukin (IL)-1β, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 17, interferon-γ, tumour necrosis factor-α, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, granulocyte monocyte colony-stimulating factor, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and macrophage inflammatory protein-1β were measured simultaneously in CSF supernatants from children with encephalopathy ( n = 8), febrile seizure ( n = 16) and fever without neurological complications ( n = 8). IL-8 in CSF from children with encephalopathy was significantly elevated compared to that in CSF from children with febrile seizure and fever without neurological complications. IL-8 in CSF was also higher than serum IL-8, suggesting that increased IL-8 was generated from glia cells or astrocytes, not by leakage from serum. Increased IL-8 in CSF in encephalopathy may protect against severe brain damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]