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Published on: August 21, 2017
Cerebrospinal fluid high-mobility group box protein 1 in neuromyelitis optica and multiple sclerosis
Honghao Wang1, Kai Wang, Conghui Wang
1Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
Background:
Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and multiple sclerosis (MS) are two autoimmune inflammatory demyelinating diseases in the central nervous system. Interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-17 may play important roles in the pathogenesis of these diseases. High-mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1) can activate the nuclear factor light chain enhancer of activated B cells and release cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-17. However, whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) HMGB1 levels were altered in NMO and MS patients is still unclear.
Objectives:
It was our aim to measure the CSF HMGB1 concentration in NMO patients and explore their relationship with IL-6, IL-17 and disease activity.
Methods:
CSF HMGB1 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in NMO (n = 22) and MS (n = 18) patients as well as in controls (n = 14).
Results:
CSF HMGB1 was notably higher in the NMO group compared with controls (p = 0.007). CSF HMGB1 positively correlated with IL-6 and IL-17 in NMO patients (IL-6, p = 0.034; IL-17, p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
In conclusion, our study suggests that CSF levels of HMGB1 are increased in patients with NMO and reflect the neuroinflammatory process.
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CSF Production
CSF is produced mainly in the choroid plexus, a network of capillaries and ependymal cells located within the ventricular system of the brain.