Altered serum levels of platelet-derived growth factor receptor β and cluster of differentiation 13 suggest a role for pericytes in West syndrome

Background Pericytes play a role in the maintenance of the blood–brain barrier and neuroinflammation, attracting attention as to whether they are also involved in the pathogenesis of epilepsy. This study aimed to explore the relationship between West syndrome and pericytes. Methods Eighteen Japanese pediatric West syndrome patients and nine controls aged 2 years or younger were retrospectively enrolled in this study. We assessed the serum levels of pericyte markers, serum PDGFRβ (platelet-derived growth factor receptor β), CD13 (aminopeptidase N), and 27 cytokines in 17 pediatric patients with West syndrome and the control group. Results Patients with West syndrome exhibited significantly increased CD13 and decreased PDGFRβ levels, compared with controls but not serum cytokine levels. These values did not differ significantly between symptomatic and idiopathic West syndrome. Conclusion Pericytes might be implicated in the pathogenesis of West syndrome.