Cytokine Expression in Tic Disorders

We found that children with tic disorders had significantly elevated levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-4 expression, while healthy control cases presented with increased levels of IL-17.

Our findings provide a molecular landscape of cytokine expression in children with TD, which may suggest a proinflammatory state not affected by the presence of comorbidity and symptom severity.

Delineating the contribution of alterations in the immune system to the pathogenesis of tic disorders will have critical implications for diagnosis and therapeutic interventions. (R1)