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Soluble E-selectin in multiple sclerosis: raised concentrations in patients with primary progressive disease
G Giovannoni1, J W Thorpe, D Kidd
1Institute of Neurology, Department of Neuroimmunology, London, UK.
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
|January 1, 1996
Summary
Soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) levels were higher in primary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) patients but did not correlate with MRI activity. These findings highlight distinct immunological profiles across MS subtypes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Biomarker Discovery
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Background:
- Endothelial activation is implicated in multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis.
- Soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) is a marker of endothelial activation.
- Gadolinium-enhanced MRI (Gd-MRI) detects active MS lesions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between sE-selectin concentrations and Gd-MRI enhancement in MS patients.
- To differentiate immunological profiles across MS subtypes.
Main Methods:
- Serial sE-selectin, C-reactive protein (CRP), von Willebrand factor (vWF), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were measured in 28 MS patients and 10 controls.
- Patients underwent monthly Gd-enhanced brain and spinal cord MRI.
Main Results:
- Primary progressive MS patients exhibited significantly higher sE-selectin levels compared to relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive MS patients.
- No correlation was found between sE-selectin concentrations and Gd-MRI enhancement.
- sE-selectin showed a strong correlation with TNF-α.
- CRP levels correlated with infectious episodes, clinical relapse, and Gd-enhancement.
Conclusions:
- sE-selectin levels are elevated in primary progressive MS, independent of MRI activity.
- These findings underscore the distinct immunological characteristics of primary progressive MS compared to other MS subtypes.