Cytokiny w osoczu krwi związane z zaburzeniami lękowymi u dorosłych pacjentów z epilepsją
Plasma Cytokines Associated with Anxiety Comorbidity in Adult Epilepsy
W skrócie
Badanie wykazało, że dorośli pacjenci z epilepsją, u których współwystępują zaburzenia lękowe, mają obniżone stężenie pewnego białka odpowiadającego za odporność (interferon-alfa) w krwi. Naukowcy przeanalizowali 12 różnych białek związanych z odpornością u 124 pacjentów i odkryli, że niskie stężenie interferonu-alfa i zmienione parametry krwi są związane z występowaniem lęku. Wyniki sugerują, że u pacjentów z epilepsją i zaburzeniami lękowymi dochodzi do zaburzenia równowagi w systemie odpornościowym.
Oryginalny abstract (angielski)
BACKGROUND: Anxiety comorbidity in epilepsy may reflect altered immune-brain communication, but the peripheral cytokine profile associated with this phenotype remains insufficiently characterized. We examined plasma cytokine alterations in adult epilepsy and explored whether immune-clinical modelling could identify a stable comorbidity-related signature. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 124 adults with epilepsy, including 35 with anxiety comorbidity and 89 without. Plasma concentrations of 12 cytokines (IFN-α, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, and IL-17A) and routine hematological parameters were evaluated. Cytokines were measured using a multiplex bead-based flow fluorescent immunoassay. Group comparisons, univariable logistic regression, LASSO regression with bootstrap stability selection, and multivariable logistic regression were performed. Model performance was assessed as an exploratory integrative framework. RESULTS: Patients with anxiety comorbidity had significantly lower plasma IFN-α levels than those without anxiety comorbidity (P = 0.001). In the final four-variable model, lower IFN-α (adjusted OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.05-0.67; P = 0.009) and lower mean corpuscular hemoglobin (adjusted OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.65-0.94; P = 0.009) were independently associated with anxiety comorbidity. IL-4 showed a positive association, whereas IL-17A showed an inverse association. The model showed moderate discrimination and acceptable calibration. CONCLUSIONS: Anxiety comorbidity in adult epilepsy is associated with peripheral cytokine alterations, particularly reduced plasma IFN-α. These findings suggest type I interferon-related immune dysregulation within a broader peripheral immune-network imbalance. Prospective validation and mechanistic studies are warranted.