Increased plasma levels of TNF-alpha but not of IL1-beta in MPTP-treated monkeys one year after the MPTP administration.

The cause of Parkinson's disease remains unknown although some evidence suggests that an inflammatory reaction, mediated by cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-1β, is related with dopaminergic degeneration in the brain. In the present work we measured the plasma levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in parkinsonian monkeys one year after MPTP administration. TNF-α levels were seen to have increased in parkinsonian monkeys reflecting the clinical symptoms observed, while IL-1β levels remained unchanged. These results suggest that TNF-α plays a role in sustaining of dopaminergic degeneration in chronic parkinsonism.