Relationship between cytokine concentrations and the level of antibodies to neuronal proteins as dependent on the severity of mercury neurotoxicity

Abstract

Serum levels of cytokines and antibodies (ABs) to neuronal proteins and their relationship were studied in patients with chronic mercury intoxication (CMI) varying in severity. CMI development was observed to worsen the imbalance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and the cytokine levels proved to reflect the severity of the pathological process. The relationships (positive and negative correlations) between cytokine and neuronal AB concentrations and their dependence on the severity of neurointoxication with elemental mercury vapor were assumed to indicate that a distorted cytokine regulation of autoimmune processes plays an important role in mercury neurotoxicity.