The basic science paper assigned this week (“Levels of Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines and Neurological Worsening in Acute Ischemic Stroke” by Nicolas Vila et. al.) Another element that plays a role in reducing the damaging effects of ischemic stroke was introduced: Interleukin-10 (IL-10). IL-10 is a cytokine which acts as an anti-inflammatory agent, by inhibiting the production of some proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6 and TNF-alpha. In this study 249 patients were observed after they were admitted for treatment within 24 hours of the onset of stroke symptoms. In this group about 36% showed signs of neurological worsening within 48 hours after the stroke began. Also noticed in this group was a significantly lower concentration of the IL-10 cytokine. The conclusions of this paper suggest that lower concentrations of IL-10 result in more damage from ischemic stroke than in cases where the levels are normal.
An interesting point brought up towards the end of this paper is the issue that some people express genes which lead to such low levels of IL-10 production. If this is found to be true in further research, this can be used as a method to detect individuals who are predisposed to stroke or those who have a greater risk of mortality from stroke. If this can be detected early, the last few statements suggest that treatment with IL-10 can prevent stroke or at least decrease the damage from acute stroke. Like the claims made concerning E-selectin tolerance, this too seems to be another potential method of preventing stroke.
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