Nitric oxide metabolite determinations reveal continuous inflammation in multiple sclerosis.
Nitric oxide (NO) is formed as a consequence of induction of the iNOS enzyme during inflammatory disorders. To investigate NO production in multiple sclerosis (MS), we determined the concentrations of its oxidation products (NOx) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma of 61 MS patients. The patients were divided into three groups on the basis of their clinical disease activity. The total levels of NOx in CSF were significantly increased in all MS groups as compared to healthy controls and tension headache patients. CSF nitrite correlated with clinical disease activity. At exacerbation, the CSF nitrite levels exceed the plasma level. This suggests that clinical disease activity is due to a CNS inflammatory response, which is more intense and qualitatively different from that during clinical stable phases. This study supports NO involvement in the pathogenesis of MS and determination of nitrite levels may be useful a surrogate marker for disease activity.
Danilov
Alexandre I
AI
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska Hospital, S-17176 Stockholm, Sweden.
Andersson
Magnus
M
Bavand
Nasrin
N
Wiklund
N Peter
NP
Olsson
Tomas
T
Brundin
Lou
L
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis; D009566:Nitrates / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000276:immunology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000276:immunology; D018781:Tension-Type Headache / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid
D015415:Biomarkers; D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase