Interleukin-8 and RANTES levels in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RR-MS) treated with cladribine

Abstract

Chemokines are involved in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of immunosuppressive therapy on production of two proinflammatory chemokines--interleukin-8 (IL-8) and RANTES (regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted). Twenty-five patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis were treated with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (Cladribine), administered subcutaneously in 6 cycles repeated every 5 weeks. IL-8 and RANTES levels were measured by the enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) method in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) before and after treatment. After Cladribine treatment the levels of IL-8 decreased significantly in CSF only, whereas the RANTES levels decreased significantly both in CSF and serum. Our results suggest that Cladribine therapy might modify the circulating level of RANTES.