Cytokine profiles in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with meningitis at a tertiary general hospital in China

Background: There has been a great deal of evidence indicating that cytokines participate in meningeal inflammation. Different cytokine profiles may be presented in central nervous system (CNS) infection due to different pathogens. We have attempted to investigate cytokine profiles in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with CNS infection. Methods: Forty-three patients with CNS infection including tuberculous meningitis, purulent meningitis and cryptococcal meningitis were enrolled and 11 patients with normal CSF were enrolled as control group. The concentrations of Th1-, Th2- and Th17-type cytokines in CSF were detected using multiplex cytokine assay. Furthermore, the correlation between CSF cytokines and CSF parameters in CNS infection was analyzed. Results: The CSF levels of IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, IL-23, IL-33, IFN-γ, TNF-α and sCD40L among the patients with CNS infection were all higher than control group (all P