Increased levels of circulating ICAM-1 in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with active multiple sclerosis. Correlation with TNF-alpha and blood-brain barrier damage.
The mechanism for the initiation of blood-brain barrier damage and intrathecal inflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS) is poorly understood. We have recently reported that levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) correlate with blood-brain barrier damage in patients with active MS. Stimulation of endothelial cells by TNF-alpha induces the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), which is an important early marker of immune activation and response. We report herein for the first time the detection of high levels of free circulating ICAM-1 in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with active MS. Levels of circulating ICAM-1 in these patients correlated with CSF pleocytosis, TNF-alpha levels and blood-brain barrier damage. These findings have important implications for the understanding and investigation of the intrathecal inflammatory response in active MS.
Sharief
M K
MK
Department of Neurochemistry, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK.
Noori
M A
MA
Ciardi
M
M
Cirelli
A
A
Thompson
E J
EJ
D000328:Adult; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1