Pre- and Postictal Changes in the Innate Immune System: Cause or Effect?

Lang J, Olmes DG, Proske M, Hagge M, Dogan Onugoren M, Rothhammer V, Schwab S, Hamer H (2021)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2021

Journal

Abstract

Introduction: Recent studies have shown that inflammatory processes might play a role in epileptogenesis. Their role in ictogenesis is much less clear. The aim of this study was to investigate peri-ictal changes of the innate immune system by analyzing changes of immune cells, as well as pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Methods: Patients with active epilepsy admitted for video-EEG monitoring for presurgical evaluation were included. Blood was sampled every 20 min for 5 h on 3 consecutive days until a seizure occurred. After a seizure, additional samples were drawn immediately, as well as 1 and 24 h later. To analyze the different populations of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, all samples underwent FACS for CD3, CD4, CD8, CD56, CD14, CD16, and CD19. For cytokine analysis, we used a custom bead-based multiplex immunoassay for IFN-gamma, IL-1 beta, IL-1RA, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IL-17, MCP-1, MIP-1 alpha, and TNF alpha. Results: Fourteen patients with focal seizures during the sampling period were included. Natural killer (NK) cells showed a negative correlation (rho = -0.3362, p = 0.0195) before seizure onset and an immediate increase to 1.95-fold afterward. T helper (T-H) and B cells decreased by 2 and 8%, respectively, in the immediate postictal interval. Nonclassical and intermediate monocytes decreased not until 1 day after the seizures, and cytotoxic T (T-C) cells showed a long-lasting postictal increase by 4%. IL-10 and MCP-1 increased significantly after seizures, and IL-12 decreased in the postictal phase. Discussion/Conclusion: Our study argues for a role of the innate immune system in the pre- and postictal phases. NK cells might be involved in preictal changes or be altered as an epiphenomenon in the immediate preictal interval.

Authors with CRIS profile

Johannes Lang Department of Neurology Manuel Proske Professur für Epileptologie Mareike Hagge Department of Neurology Veit Rothhammer Heisenbergprofessur für Neuroimmunologie Stefan Schwab Lehrstuhl für Neurologie Hajo Hamer Professur für Epileptologie

How to cite

APA:

Lang, J., Olmes, D.G., Proske, M., Hagge, M., Dogan Onugoren, M., Rothhammer, V.,... Hamer, H. (2021). Pre- and Postictal Changes in the Innate Immune System: Cause or Effect? European neurology. https://doi.org/10.1159/000516556

MLA:

Lang, Johannes, et al. "Pre- and Postictal Changes in the Innate Immune System: Cause or Effect?" European neurology (2021).

BibTeX: Download