Chemokines CXCL10 and CXCL11 in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with tick-borne encephalitis

Objectives – The aim of our study was to determine whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with tick‐borne encephalitis (TBE) contains CXCL10, CXCL11, p40 subunit of interleukin‐12 (IL‐12)/IL‐23, IL‐18 and IL‐15. We compared serum and CSF concentrations of CXCL10 and analysed the possible concentration gradient of this chemokine between the periphery and central nervous system. Materials and methods – The study enrolled 19 TBE patients and 10 patients with non‐inflammatory neurological diseases. Results – CSF of TBE patients contained CXCL10 (median 217 pg/ml), CXCL11 (8.3 pg/ml), p40 subunit of IL‐12/IL‐23 (38.9 pg/ml), IL‐18 (30.1 pg/ml) and IL‐15 (5.9 pg/ml). CXCL10 in the CSF of TBE patients was higher compared with serum (median 62 pg/ml, P