Changes of Interleukin-10 and Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Children with Aseptic Meningitis

PURPOSE: Interleukin(IL)-10 is an antiinflammatory cytokine produced by monocytes/macrophages. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor(G-CSF) plays an important role, not only as a hemopoietic factor but also as a regulating factor for a biologic defense system by neutrophils, in the foci of infection. We studied G-CSF and IL-10 levels in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) of patients with aseptic meningitis and investigated the relationship of G-CSF and IL-10 with other inflammatory cells. METHODS: We measured IL-10 and G-CSF levels in the serum and CSF of children with or without aseptic meningitis using ELISA and compared them with other inflammatory cells in the CSF. RESULTS: CSF levels of IL-10 & G-CSF on admission were significantly higher in the aseptic meningitis group than in the control group. IL-10 and G-CSF levels in the CSF were higher than those in the serum(P<0.001). Mean CSF IL-10 & G-CSF levels during the recovery stage decreased significantly compared to those of the symptomatic stage(P<0.001). Significant correlations were found between CSF IL-10 levels and mononuclear cell counts(r=0.26, P<0.05), and between G-CSF levels and neutrophil counts in the CSF(r=0.44, P<0.005). CSF levels of G-CSF were highest on the 1st day of the illness, although CSF IL-10 levels reached its peak on the 3rd day of the illness. CONCLUSION: IL-10 and G-CSF are produced in the CSF of patients with aseptic meningitis and may play an immunoregulatory role by recruiting inflammatory cells from the peripheral blood at the initial stage of aseptic meningitis.

Changes of Interleukin-10 and Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Children with Aseptic Meningitis

PURPOSE: Interleukin(IL)-10 is an antiinflammatory cytokine produced by monocytes/macrophages. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor(G-CSF) plays an important role, not only as a hemopoietic factor but also as a regulating factor for a biologic defense system by neutrophils, in the foci of infection. We studied G-CSF and IL-10 levels in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) of patients with aseptic meningitis and investigated the relationship of G-CSF and IL-10 with other inflammatory cells. METHODS: We measured IL-10 and G-CSF levels in the serum and CSF of children with or without aseptic meningitis using ELISA and compared them with other inflammatory cells in the CSF. RESULTS: CSF levels of IL-10 & G-CSF on admission were significantly higher in the aseptic meningitis group than in the control group. IL-10 and G-CSF levels in the CSF were higher than those in the serum(P<0.001). Mean CSF IL-10 & G-CSF levels during the recovery stage decreased significantly compared to those of the symptomatic stage(P<0.001). Significant correlations were found between CSF IL-10 levels and mononuclear cell counts(r=0.26, P<0.05), and between G-CSF levels and neutrophil counts in the CSF(r=0.44, P<0.005). CSF levels of G-CSF were highest on the 1st day of the illness, although CSF IL-10 levels reached its peak on the 3rd day of the illness. CONCLUSION: IL-10 and G-CSF are produced in the CSF of patients with aseptic meningitis and may play an immunoregulatory role by recruiting inflammatory cells from the peripheral blood at the initial stage of aseptic meningitis.

A Seroepidemiologic Study on Hepatitis A in Seoul, Korea

PURPOSE: The prevalence of hepatitis A(HAV) in a certain community reflects that community's living standard and hygienic condition. and the pattern of HAV infection differs over time and geography, with varying widely from country to country and even within the same city. Recently a shift in prevalence has been observed in cases from childhood to adulthood. We studied HAV antibody prevalence in the general and welfare population of Seoul. METHODS: From March to July 1997, a total of 686 subjects were tested for HAV antibody, of which 586 samples were collected from patients in Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, and the remaining 100 samples from the inmates of a welfare facility. RESULTS: The overall seropositive rate of HAV was 26.4%(181/686). In the hospital patient group, the seropositive rates were 72% in subjects aged below 6 months, 8.5% in 7-12 months, 0% in 1-4 years, 1.9% in 5-9 years, 0% in 10-14 years, 7.4% in 15-19 years, 64.3% in 20-29 years, and 100% in subjects aged over 30 years. The welfare-facility-inmate group showed significantly higher positive rates than the age-matched hospital patient group(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: As the socioeconomic condition in Korea has improved, the HAV seropositive rate in school-aged children has dramatically decreased in the last 15 years. But even in the same city, the seropositive rate of HAV differed according to the hygienic level. The seropositive rate of HAV in the pediatric group was very low, which suggests the increasing possibility of clinical HAV infection in adults in the near future.