title: IL-23 plasma level measurement in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients compared to healthy subjects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neuroinflammatory disease with unknown etiology and variable clinical evolution. Interleukin-23 (IL-23), a member of the IL-12 cytokine family is a heterodimeric cytokine composed of the IL-12p40 subunit, and with a novel p19 subunit, its ability to enhance the expansion of T helper type 17 (Th17) cells indicates the responsibility for many of the inflammatory autoimmune responses.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the project is to measure IL-23 level in plasma of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in comparison with healthy control subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a case-control study, plasma was collected from healthy subjects as control group (n = 40) and patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) (n = 40). The plasma level of IL-23 was assessed by ELISA method. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS (Ver. 16).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma level of IL-23 in MS patients was significantly increased compared to control subjects (p Value < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings revealed the increased IL-23 level in patients' group. In conclusion, the inhibition of IL-23 might be a novel and promising therapeutic strategy, especially in the therapy of autoimmune inflammatory diseases. IL-23 plays a pivotal role in development of MS and might be a specific marker and therapeutic target for MS.
authors.affiliation: Applied Physiology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences , Isfahan , Iran .
authors.forename: Mansour
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shajarian
authors.forename: Fereshteh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alsahebfosoul
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Etemadifar
authors.forename: Nahid
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sedaghat
authors.forename: Mansoureh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shahbazi
authors.forename: Fatemeh Pourgadegan
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Firouzabadi
authors.forename: Hoda Mohammad
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Dezashibi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D053759:Interleukin-23
keywords: ELISA; interleukin-23 (IL-23); multiple Sclerosis; neuroinflammatory