Cell surface bound and soluble adhesion molecules in CSF and blood in multiple sclerosis: correlation with MRI-measures of subclinical disease severity and activity.
BACKGROUND
The expression of soluble cell adhesion molecules (AM) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood and their significance as measures of disease activity has been extensively studied in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). In previous studies, we found that cell surface bound AM on mononuclear cells (MNC) in CSF and blood might be useful markers of clinical disease activity in MS patients.


OBJECTIVE
To analyze the correlation of cell surface bound and soluble AM in CSF and blood with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers of subclinical disease severity and activity in patients with MS.


METHODS
Expression levels of cell surface bound AM on peripheral blood and CSF MNC were determined by flow cytometry analysis in 77 (CSF: 33) MS patients. Concentration levels of the soluble forms of AM were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In corresponding cerebral gadolinium (Gd)-enhanced MRI scans, we determined both measures of subclinical disease severity and subclinical disease activity.


RESULTS
The expression levels of cell surface bound AM in peripheral blood correlated inversely with parameters for subclinical disease severity and activity on cerebral MRI scans as well as with the disease duration. Furthermore, we found significant correlations between serum levels of soluble AM and patient age but not with disease duration.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that subclinical disease progression may be associated with a decrease of the expression of cell surface bound AM on peripheral blood MNC. This might be a result of activated MNC migration into the CNS.
Kraus
J
J
Department of Neurology, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Research Group for Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology, Am Steg 14, 35385, Giessen, Germany. joerg.r.kraus@neuro.med.uni-giessen.de
Engelhardt
B
B
Chatzimanolis
N
N
Bauer
R
R
Tofighi
J
J
Kuehne
B S
BS
Laske
C
C
Stolz
E
E
Frielinghaus
P
P
Schaefer
C
C
Blaes
F
F
Traupe
H
H
Kaps
M
M
Oschmann
P
P
D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000473:pathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012995:Solubility; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; C483616:ICAM3 protein, human; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1