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Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is an atypical parkinsonian syndrome based on tau pathology; its clinical phenotype differs, but PSP with Richardson’s syndrome (PSP-RS) and the PSP parkinsonism predominant (PSP-P) variant remain the two most common manifestations. Neuroinflammation is involved in the course of the disease and may cause neurodegeneration. However, an up-to-date cytokine profile has not been assessed in different PSP phenotypes. This study aimed to evaluate possible differences in neuroinflammatory patterns between the two most common PSP phenotypes. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and IL-6 were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits in 36 study participants—12 healthy controls and 24 patients with a clinical diagnosis of PSP-12 PSP-RS and 12 PSP-P. Disease duration among PSP patients ranged from three to six years. All participants underwent basic biochemical testing, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) values were calculated. Due to a lack of neuropathological examinations, as all patients remain alive, total tau levels were assessed in the CSF. Tau levels were significantly higher in the PSP-P and PSP-RS groups compared to the healthy controls. The lowest concentrations of serum and CSF interleukins were observed in PSP-RS patients, whereas PSP-P patients and healthy controls had significantly higher interleukin concentrations. Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between serum IL-6 levels and PLR in PSP-RS patients. The results indicate the existence of distinct neuroinflammatory patterns or a neuroprotective role of increased inflammatory activity, which could cause the differences between PSPS phenotypes and clinical course. The causality of the correlations described requires further studies to be confirmed.

Background: Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) is a valuable alternative to pharmacotherapy alone in an advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). Given the growing number of patients with STN-DBS, its impact on the comorbidities should be considered.Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of bilateral STN-DBS on the lipid profile in patients with PD.Methods: Three groups of parkinsonian patients were included: 20 treated pharmacologically–PHT group, 20 newly qualified for STN-DBS–DBS group, and 14 postoperative patients (median 30 months after surgery)–POP group. Plasma concentrations of the total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), and body weight were measured thrice in 9 ± 2 month intervals.Results: A significant increase in the LDL-C concentration is observed early after surgery in the DBS group (11.4 mg/dl, P < 0.01) followed by adverse changes in the HDL-C (−7.7 mg/dl, P = 0.01) and TG (14.1 mg/dl, P = 0.05) plasma levels. In the POP group, the average level of TC at the first visit was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than in the other groups and the TG level was higher than in the PHT group during the follow-up (P < 0.01). A strong positive correlation with body weight alteration after surgery was observed only for long-term changes in the TG levels.Conclusions: Our data indicate that STN-DBS may negatively affect the cardiometabolic profile of patients. Similarly to body weight gain, an increase in the LDL-C concentration occurred early after surgery while adverse changes in the HDL-C and TG plasma levels were more gradual.