Decrease of S100 beta protein in serum of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease of unknown origin characterized by loss of upper and lower motor neurons and concomitant astrogliosis. We have investigated the S100 beta protein levels in serum as a marker for astroglia of patients with ALS (n = 41) in comparison to a control group (n = 32). Additionally we have investigated 12 patients at different follow-up time points (minimum 6 months). We could not observe a significant difference of S100 beta protein in patients with ALS in comparison to our control group (P = 0.11) but we could clearly see a decrease of S100 beta levels in the further course of the disease. As S100 beta is also seen as a protein with nerve growth factor activity we assume that the fall of serum levels may reflect the loss of nerve growth stimulation in patients with ALS and suppose that repetitive measurements of S100 beta in serum can be used as an objective marker for disease progression.