Abstract.
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The effects of IL-6 are mediated through a specific receptor complex made up of a ligand binding glycoprotein (gp80 or IL-6R) and a signal transducing glycoprotein (gp130). Conflicting results have been reported concerning altered IL-6 or soluble IL-6R (sIL-6R) levels in serum and CSF in AD. This study investigated whether genetic heterogeneity determines the magnitude of the difference in IL-6 and sIL-6R levels in AD. Fifty-eight AD patients and 25 control subjects were included. Plasma and CSF IL-6 and sIL-6R levels were measured and the IL-6 variable number of number repeats (IL-6vntr) and IL-6 promoter (IL-6prom) genotypes were determined. sIL-6R levels in plasma and CSF were higher in AD patients than in control subjects. This elevation was striking among non-carriers of the IL-6vntr*C allele and among subjects homozygous for the IL-6prom*C allele whereas no difference in plasma and CSF sIL-6R levels was observed among carriers of the IL-6vntr*C allele and among subjects with the IL-6prom*CG and IL-6prom*GG genotypes. We conclude that plasma and CSF levels of sIL-6R are significantly increased in AD patients and that the magnitude of increase is determined by the IL-6 genotype.
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Received: 3 December 2002 / Accepted: 15 January 2003
Correspondence to Prof. Dr. Reinhard Heun
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Bagli, M., Papassotiropoulos, A., Hampel, H. et al. Polymorphisms of the gene encoding the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 determine the magnitude of the increase in soluble interleukin-6 receptor levels in Alzheimer's disease . European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences 253, 44–48 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-003-0405-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-003-0405-x