IL-6 role in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy development

Inflammation is an epilepsy hallmark with a prominent role assigned to Interleukin-6 (IL-6). This cytokine is claimed to partake in synaptic modulation and neuronal development. IL-6 overexpression has been documented in Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (MTLE) patients suggesting the influence of IL6 polymorphisms, namely rs1800795 (−174 G > C) in genetic susceptibility to MTLE. We sought to quantify IL-6 brain expression in MTLE patients and analyse the role of rs1800875 polymorphism in epilepsy susceptibility.