Analysis of serum interleukin-27 and interleukin-35 concentrations in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome.

BACKGROUNDS: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a postinfectious immune-mediated peripheral neuropathy. Interleukin (IL)-27 and IL-35 have been recognized as novel members of IL-12 family. We evaluated the serum and cerebral spinal fluid (CFS) concentrations of IL-27 and IL-35 in GBS and analyze their correlations with clinical characteristics.

METHODS: Serum samples from 50 patients with GBS including 9 acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (AIDP), 33 acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN) and 8 unclassified and 35 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were collected. Thirty CSF samples from these patients and 25 patients with other noninflammatory neurological disorders (ONNDs) as disease controls were collected after lumbar puncture. Serum and CSF IL-27 and IL-35 concentrations were measured using human IL-27 or IL-35 ELISA.

RESULTS: Serum IL-27 concentrations were elevated (p=0.002) whereas serum IL-35 concentrations were decreased (p=0.031) in patients with GBS comparing with healthy controls, particularly in patients exhibiting AMAN (p=0.012). Additionally, serum IL-35 concentrations were negatively correlated with disease severity and outcomes in patients with AMAN (r=-0.358, p=0.041; r=-0.416, p=0.016).

CONCLUSIONS: IL-27 might be pathogenic, whereas IL-35 be protective in GBS. Additionally, serum IL-35 concentrations may be important biomarkers for the severity and outcomes of AMAN.