Neurological damage mediated by cytokines.

Our results suggest that CKs, in particular Interleukin-1 and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-alpha, are involved in the pathogenesis of some neurological disorders and HIV infection. Infact, we observed an exaggerated spontaneous release of TNF-alpha in patients with migraine without aura. Furthermore, in a broad spectrum of patients with HIV-infection we have also found increased amounts of serum TNF-alfa and IL-1. Interestingly, a strict correlation between plasma lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and IL-1 or TNF-alpha levels seems to exist in both group of patients, thus indicating that LPS could account for the production of CKs in the course of the above diseases.