In vivo and in vitro immune variables in patients with narcolepsy and HLA-DR2 matched controls.

We investigated cytokine levels (interleukin [IL]-1beta, IL-1ra, IL-2, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-alpha, TNF-beta) in plasma and secreted by mitogen-stimulated blood monocytes and lymphocytes; T-cell subsets; and natural killer cell activity in patients with narcolepsy and in human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR2 matched controls. The only significant finding was higher IL-6 secretion by monocytes of patients than by those of the HLA-DR2-positive controls. In conclusion, we found no major abnormalities of T-cell function in patients with narcolepsy, but slight alterations of monocyte function deserving further investigation.