Article

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that the proinflammatory cytokine macrophage
migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is elevated in the circulation of patients with
chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) relative to uninjured subjects, and secondarily
to identify additional immune mediators that are elevated in subjects with
chronic SCI. DESIGN: Prospective, observational pilot study. SETTING: Outpatient
clinic of a department of physical medicine and rehabilitation and research
institute in an academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals with chronic
(>1y from initial injury) SCI (n=22) and age- and sex-matched uninjured subjects
(n=19). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Plasma levels of
MIF, as determined by a commercially available multiplex suspension immunoassay.
The relationship between MIF levels and clinical/demographic variables was also
examined. As a secondary outcome, we evaluated other cytokines, chemokines, and
growth factors. RESULTS: Plasma MIF levels were significantly higher in subjects
with chronic SCI than in control subjects (P<.001). Elevated MIF levels were not
correlated significantly with any one clinical or demographic characteristic.
Subjects with SCI also exhibited significantly higher plasma levels of monokine
induced by interferon-gamma/chemokine C-X-C motif ligand 9 (P<.03), macrophage
colony stimulating factor (P<.035), interleukin-3 (P<.044), and stem cell growth
factor beta (SCGF-beta) (P<.016). Among subjects with SCI, the levels of
SCGF-beta increased with the time from initial injury. CONCLUSIONS: These data
confirm the hypothesis that MIF is elevated in subjects with chronic SCI and
identify additional novel immune mediators that are also elevated in these
subjects. This study suggests the importance of examining the potential
functional roles of MIF and other immune factors in subjects with chronic SCI.
CI - Copyright (c) 2013 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS