IL-6 and CCL2 levels in CSF are associated with the clinical course of MS: Implications for their possible immunopathogenic roles

Biological markers would provide valuable tools for tracking disease activity, immunopathological processes or therapeutic efficacy in MS. In this study we analysed a panel of Th1/Th2 cytokines and the chemokine CCL2 in serum and CSF from MS patients and healthy controls. Increased levels of IL-6 (p < 0.05) and decreased levels of CCL2 (p < 0.001), with the lowest levels during acute relapses, was found in CSF from patients with relapsing–remitting MS. CSF levels of CCL2 correlated with indices for intrathecal IgG production and the CSF level of the neurofilament light protein, a marker for axonal damage, indicating a immunopathogenic role for CCL2.