title: [The effect of cladribine treatment on beta-2 microglobin in the cerebrospinal fluid and serum of patients with multiple sclerosis].
abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most frequent demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Lymphocytes seem to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of the disorder. They are rich in, among others, beta-2Microglobulin (beta 2M)--a low molecular weight protein located extracellularly and associated with class 1 antigens of the major histocompatibility complex. beta-2M is considered as a marker for disease activity in immune disorders. Its precise role in pathology remains still unknown, but there is evidence that it may be involved in lymphocyte activation. Cladribine (2-chloro-2-deoxyadenosine, 2-CDA) is a potent lymphocytotoxic agent under investigation in the treatment in MS patients, earlier used in hairy-cell-leukemia therapy. Previous studies in MS populations showed beta 2-microglobulin to be moderately increased. Suspecting that beta 2M levels might indicate inflammatory events in CNS we determined CSF-beta 2M and serum beta 2M concentration in patients with relapsing-remitting MS (n = 15) before and after cladribine treatment as well as in a control group diagnosed as tension type headache (n = 10). There was a significant decrease in the CSF and sera beta 2M level in MS patients after cladribine treatment, associated with a slight but significant clinical improvement measured by Kurtzke's Expanded Disability Status Scale. We conclude that beta 2M is a sensitive marker of the CDA influence on the immune system in MS patients; however, increase in CSF and sera beta 2M is not specific as there was no statistically significant difference between MS and control patients.
authors.affiliation: Zakładu Neuroimmunologii Klinicznej Katedry i Kliniki Neurologii AM w Poznaniu.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Niezgoda
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Losy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017338:Cladribine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000188:drug therapy; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D017338:Cladribine