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Updated: Aug 7, 2026
Comprehensive Autopsy Program for Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis
Published on: July 19, 2019
Upregulation of myeloperoxidase in patients with opticospinal multiple sclerosis: positive correlation with disease
Motozumi Minohara1, Takeshi Matsuoka, Wei Li
1Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
Abstract:
To clarify the role of myeloperoxidase (MPO) in multiple sclerosis (MS), we measured serum MPO levels in 86 Japanese patients with relapsing remitting MS, 47 with opticospinal MS (OSMS) and 39 with conventional MS (CMS), and 85 healthy subjects by sandwich enzyme immunoassays and analyzed relationships with clinical features. We found a significant increase in serum MPO in OSMS patients at relapse and remission, and in CMS patients at remission compared with controls. By logistic regression analysis, the clinical variable associated with high level of MPO at remission in OSMS patients (higher than the mean+/-2 S.D. of healthy controls) was only Kurtzke's Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score in blood sampling (p=0.0245); that is, a greater EDSS scores in the high MPO group, whereas in CMS none were associated. The results of our study suggest that MPO levels in remission are related with severe tissue destruction in OSMS.
Insights
Myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels are elevated in opticospinal MS (OSMS) and conventional MS (CMS) patients. In OSMS, higher MPO correlates with greater disability, suggesting MPO indicates severe tissue destruction.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Biomarkers in Neurological Diseases
Background:
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system.
- The role of myeloperoxidase (MPO) in MS pathogenesis remains unclear.
- Opticospinal MS (OSMS) and Conventional MS (CMS) are distinct subtypes with differing clinical and pathological features.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between serum MPO levels and MS subtypes.
- To explore the relationship between MPO levels and clinical disability in MS patients.
Main Methods:
- Serum MPO levels were quantified using sandwich enzyme immunoassays.
- 86 Japanese patients with relapsing remitting MS (47 OSMS, 39 CMS) and 85 healthy controls were analyzed.
- Logistic regression analysis was employed to identify clinical correlates of high MPO levels.
Main Results:
- Serum MPO levels were significantly elevated in OSMS patients during relapse and remission, and in CMS patients during remission compared to controls.
- In OSMS patients with high MPO levels at remission, Kurtzke's Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score was the only associated clinical variable (p=0.0245).
- Higher EDSS scores were observed in the high MPO group among OSMS patients, with no such association found in CMS patients.
Conclusions:
- Serum MPO levels are elevated in both OSMS and CMS patients, particularly during remission.
- Elevated MPO levels in remission are associated with greater disability in OSMS, suggesting a role in severe tissue destruction.
- MPO may serve as a potential biomarker for disease severity and tissue damage in OSMS.
