Serum level of IL-1β in patients with inflammatory demyelinating disease: Marked upregulation in the early acute phase of MOG antibody associated disease (MOGAD)

Background: To evaluate the serum cytokine profiles in patients with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoproteins antibody associated disease (MOGAD), compared to those in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder with aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin G (APQ4-IgG + NMOSD), multiple sclerosis (MS), and other inflammatory demyelinating diseases (IDDs). Methods: The level of interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-17A, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and interferon (IFN)-gamma in sera from 21 patients with MOGAD, 32 APQ4-IgG + NMOSD, 24 MS, and 16 other IDDs were assessed. Results: In MOGAD patients, the levels of IL-1 beta and IL-12p70 were elevated compared to APQ4-IgG + NMOSD. The level of IL-10 and the ratio of T helper (Th)-1/Th2-related cytokines were elevated in MOGAD patients compared to MS or other IDDs. In an intragroup analysis, the IL-1 beta was increased in acute stage of MOGAD, APQ4-IgG + NMOSD, and also MS compared to their chronic stage counterpart. It was inversely correlated with time from acute attack to sampling in MOGAD (p < 0.001) and AQP4-IgG + NMOSD (p = 0.001), but not in MS. Moreover, the IL-1 beta was most markedly upregulated in MOGAD sera sampled within 1 week from acute attack compared to those sampled after (p = 0.002). Conclusions: The serum IL-1 beta can be elevated in the acute stage of patients with diverse IDDs including, MOGAD, APQ4-IgG + NMOSD, and MS. This upregulation of serum IL-1 beta can be most markedly observed in the early acute stage of MOGAD patients. Further studies seem to be needed to determine the proper mechanism for the upregulation of serum IL-1 beta and also the role of IL-1 beta inhibition especially at the early acute stage of MOGAD.