25 Hydroxyvitamin D and Cytokine Profile in Patients With Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

In experimental allergic encephalomyelitis, the severity of the deficiency is associated with the loss of axons, and it is likely that cytotoxic T-cells 8 (CD8 T) play an important role. In relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, there is a correlation between the inflammatory activity in the lesion and the transection of axons. To understand the pathological mechanisms, it is important to evaluate the changes in serum concentrations of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines during the disease course. A total of 46 patients and 40 healthy individuals participated in an open-label, prospective, case-control study from 2012 to 2014. The serum concentrations of cytokines were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). An immune imbalance was observed during relapse and remission phases compared to the control group. During relapse, the levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) were significantly higher compared to those in remission (p=0.017). During remission, there was an improvement in the deficiency (p<0.001), and the anti-inflammatory cytokines transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) and interleukin 4 (IL4) increased compared to those in relapse (p=0.006; p=0.009). A correlation was found between the serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) during relapse (correlation coefficient: 0.301; significance (Sig.) (2-tailed 0.042). During the exacerbation, there was a moderate relationship between interleukin 17 (IL17) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) (P (p-value (probability value) = 0.02)). TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL17, and TGF-β serum levels are criteria for evaluating immune inflammatory activity during relapse and remission periods.