title: Clinical and MRI disease activity in multiple sclerosis are associated with reciprocal fluctuations in serum and cerebrospinal fluid levels of soluble HLA class I molecules.
abstract: The goal of our study was to clarify the contribution of soluble human leukocyte antigens class I (sHLA-I) in multiple sclerosis (MS) immune dysregulation. We retrospectively evaluated by ELISA cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum sHLA-I levels in 79 relapsing-remitting (RR), 26 secondary progressive (SP) and 15 primary progressive (PP) MS patients stratified according to clinical and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) evidence of disease activity. One hundred and nine patients with other inflammatory neurological disorders (OIND), 88 with noninflammatory neurological disorders (NIND) and 82 healthy donors were used as controls. An intrathecal synthesis of sHLA-I detected by a specific index was significantly more consistent in MS than in controls, with more pronounced values in MS patients with relapses and MRI enhancing brain lesions. A decrease in serum sHLA-I concentrations was observed in MS patients with demyelinating attacks, while an increase in CSF levels of sHLA-I was found in MS patients with lesional activity on MRI scans. This association between intrathecal synthesis and reciprocal fluctuations of CSF and serum levels of sHLA-I in clinically and MRI active MS seems to suggest a potential role for CSF and serum levels of sHLA-I as a sensitive marker of immune activation taking place both intrathecally and systemically in MS.
authors.affiliation: Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology, University of Ferrara, Arcispedale S. Anna, Corso della Giovecca 203, I-44100, Ferrara, Italy. henryfai@tin.it
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fainardi
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Granieri
authors.forename: Maria Rosaria
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Tola
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Melchiorri
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vaghi
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castellazzi
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ceruti
authors.forename: Ezio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paolino
authors.forename: Olavio Roberto
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Baricordi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I