Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 29, 2026
A Method of Trigonometric Modelling of Seasonal Variation Demonstrated with Multiple Sclerosis Relapse Data
Published on: December 9, 2015
sICAM-1 is not a marker for disease activity in the relapse-free interval of multiple sclerosis--a cross-sectional
Peter Flachenecker1, Stefan Jung, Peter Rieckmann
1Department of Neurology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 11, 97080 Würzburg, Germany. peter.flachenecker@mail.uni-wuerzburg.de
Abstract:
In multiple sclerosis (MS), serum levels of ICAM-1 were elevated during acute exacerbations and were therefore proposed as a marker of disease activity, but the potential of this molecule as an indicator of long-term activity, i. e. the progression of the disease outside acute exacerbations, is not known. We therefore measured sICAM-1 levels by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 26 patients with active relapsing-remitting (RR) MS (at least two relapses in the preceding 2 years, but not within the last 30 days), in 10 patients with active secondary-progressive MS (progression of at least one point on the EDSS and/or two relapses in the preceding 2 years, but not within the last 30 days), in 8 patients with stable RR MS (no relapse and no progression during the last two years), and in 16 healthy controls. There was no significant difference between the different MS subtypes and healthy controls, nor within the different MS subtypes. Thus, while sICAM-1 may be useful to indicate short-term activity of MS in terms of relapses and MRI activity, this does not hold true for the long-term activity of MS outside acute exacerbations.
Insights
Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) may indicate short-term multiple sclerosis (MS) activity like relapses. However, sICAM-1 levels do not reflect long-term MS disease progression outside of acute exacerbations.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Serum levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) are elevated during acute multiple sclerosis (MS) exacerbations.
- sICAM-1 has been proposed as a marker for MS disease activity.
- Its utility in indicating long-term disease progression outside of acute relapses remains unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of sICAM-1 as a biomarker for long-term disease activity in multiple sclerosis.
- To assess sICAM-1 levels in different MS subtypes and compare them to healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Serum sICAM-1 levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
- Patients included those with active relapsing-remitting MS, active secondary-progressive MS, and stable relapsing-remitting MS.
- A cohort of healthy controls was included for comparison.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in sICAM-1 levels were observed between the various MS subtypes (active RRMS, active SPMS, stable RRMS) and healthy controls.
- sICAM-1 levels did not differ significantly within the different MS subtypes.
- These findings suggest sICAM-1 is not indicative of long-term disease progression.
Conclusions:
- While sICAM-1 may serve as an indicator of short-term MS activity, such as relapses and MRI activity, it is not a reliable marker for long-term disease progression.
- Further research is needed to identify reliable biomarkers for monitoring chronic MS progression.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Multiple Sclerosis l: Introduction
01:25Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System VI: Calcium -Scoring CT