CHI3L1 and CXCL13 Levels of Serum and CSF in Treatment-Naïve Multiple Sclerosis: Associations with Disease Activity

Cytokines, intracellular polypeptides, and chemokines, which belong to a small protein superfamily, are crucial in regulating inflammation and cell migration. Profiling these molecules can offer significant insights into the inflammatory process and aid in predicting disease outcomes. This study seeks to quantify cytokine and chemokine levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from treatment-naïve patients, both with and without poor prognostic indicators, to identify biomarkers indicative of disease activity.

A prospective, observational, cross-sectional study was carried out involving patients diagnosed with Multiple sclerosis (MS) or non-inflammatory neurological disorders at Marmara University Faculty of Medicine.

those with poor prognostic outcomes and those without. Levels of IL-8, IL-12/IL-23p40, IL-21, CHI3L1, and CXCL13 were measured in both CSF and serum samples using the ELISA method. Statistical analyses were conducted using Stata version 15.1.

A total of 56 patients participated in the study. CHI3L1 (p=0.003) and CXCL13 (p<0.001) levels in CSF were significantly elevated in MS patients compared to the control group. Among the MS cohort, serum CXCL13 levels positively correlated with the EDSS score (p=0.04, r=0.39) and the number of spinal cord lesions (p=0.009, r=0.48). Additionally, a significant negative correlation was observed between CSF CXCL13 levels and patient age in the MS group (p=0.03, r=-0.42).

Increased CSF levels of CHI3L1 and CXCL13 may serve as potential diagnostic markers for Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS) patients. Given the ease of collecting serum samples, further research is necessary to explore the relationship between serum CXCL13 levels, EDSS scores, and spinal cord lesions in larger cohorts.