Cytokine dysregulation in children with cerebral palsy

• DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.14724
• Publication Date: 2020-11-13T11:24:17Z
• Authors: Zunera Zareen; Tammy Strickland; Lida Fallah; Victoria McEneaney; Lynne Kelly; Denise McDonald; Eleanor J Molloy
• Keywords: Inflammation; Male; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Adolescent; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Cerebral Palsy; Interleukins; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Cytokines; Humans; Female; Child

AimTo examine pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory cytokines in children with cerebral palsy (CP) at baseline and in response to endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide), and correlate outcomes compared with age‐matched comparisons, to evaluate their ability to mount an immune response.MethodSerum cytokines were assessed in 12 children (eight males, four females; mean age 10y 1mo [SD 1y 8mo], 6–16y) with CP against 12 age‐matched comparisons (eight males, four females; mean age 9y 1mo [SD 1y 1mo]). Pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory cytokines (interleukin‐1β, interleukin‐2, interleukin‐6, interleukin‐8, interleukin‐10, interleukin‐18, tumour necrosis factor [TNF]‐α, TNF‐β, interferon‐γ, granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor [GM‐CSF], vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF], erythropoietin, and interleukin‐1 receptor antagonist) were measured at baseline and in response to in vitro simulation with lipopolysaccharide by multiplex enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.ResultsSignificantly higher erythropoietin was found at baseline in children with CP compared with the comparison group. There was a strong response to lipopolysaccharide for interleukin‐8, VEGF, TNF‐α, and GM‐CSF in both children with CP and the comparison group; however, there was significant lipopolysaccharide hyporesponsiveness in children with CP compared with the comparison group for interleukin‐1α, interleukin‐1β, interleukin‐2, and interleukin‐6.InterpretationAltered cytokine responses in children with CP compared with the comparison group demonstrate an altered inflammatory state that may contribute to ongoing sequelae and could be a target for therapy.What this paper adds

Altered inflammatory responses persist in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Erythropoietin is elevated in children with CP compared with the comparison group. Children with CP have reduced interleukin‐1α, interleukin‐1β, interleukin‐2, and interleukin‐6 inflammatory responses to lipopolysaccharide.