Cytokine production in blood mononuclear cells from epileptic patients.

Although convulsive disorders have been associated with immune abnormalities, little is known about cytokine production in epileptic patients. We evaluated the concentrations of interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) secreted by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from epileptic patients. The PBMC collected from epileptic patients, as compared with those of a control group, showed greater production of IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, and IL-6 in response to in vitro stimulation with mitogen. There was no statistical difference among patients treated with different antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Significantly greater IL-2 production was observed in PBMC from carbamazepine (CBZ)-treated patients as compared with both the control group or with valproate and phenobarbital (PB)-treated patients.