Biologically active TGF-beta 1 is increased in cerebrospinal fluid while it is reduced in serum in multiple sclerosis patients.
OBJECTIVE
The polypeptide transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) is a product of activated monocytes, among other inflammatory cells, and it affects immune responsiveness, cellular growth and differentiation. TGF-beta 1 has potent T-cell inhibiting activities. It may play an important role in limiting autoimmune inflammation. We were interested about levels of biologically active and total TGF-beta 1 in serum and CSF in patients suffering from multiple sclerosis.


METHODS
We measured biologically active and total TGF-beta 1 in serum and CSF using ELISA-technique in 64 MS patients with 57 during acute exacerbation of MS and 7 in remission (primary-relapsing: n = 59; primary-progressive: n = 5), 20 healthy subjects, and 21 patients with other non-inflammatory neurological diseases (OND).


RESULTS
Biologically active TGF-beta 1 in serum was reduced in MS patients compared to controls, on the other hand total TGF-beta 1 was elevated in CSF compared to patients with OND. Biologically active TGF-beta 1 in CSF correlated positively with the duration of the acute relapse in patients with primary-relapsing MS. The more relapses the patients had the higher was biologically active TGF-beta 1 in CSF. Total TGF-beta 1 in CSF correlated with macrophages in CSF and albumin quotient.


CONCLUSIONS
We found that an elevated level of biologically active TGF-beta 1 in CSF might be useful as an indicator of disease limitation while active TGF-beta 1 in serum is reduced in multiple sclerosis. Measuring TGF-beta 1 in body fluids by ELISA techniques produces valid results and might be used for further studies focusing on the role of this cytokine in MS.
Rollnik
J D
JD
Department of Neurology, Medical School Hannover, Germany.
Sindern
E
E
Schweppe
C
C
Malin
J P
JP
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D018450:Disease Progression; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000276:immunology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*
D015415:Biomarkers; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta