title: Increased circulating levels of vitamin D binding protein in MS patients.
abstract: Vitamin D (vitD) low status is currently considered a main environmental factor in multiple sclerosis (MS) etiology and pathogenesis. VitD and its metabolites are highly hydrophobic and circulate mostly bound to the vitamin D binding protein (DBP) and with lower affinity to albumin, while less than 1% are in a free form. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the circulating levels of either of the two vitD plasma carriers and/or their relationship are altered in MS. We measured DBP and albumin plasma levels in 28 MS patients and 24 healthy controls. MS patients were found to have higher DBP levels than healthy subjects. Concomitant interferon beta therapy did not influence DBP concentration, and the difference with the control group was significant in both females and males. No significant correlation between DBP and albumin levels was observed either in healthy controls or in patients. These observations suggest the involvement of DBP in the patho-physiology of MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome 00161, Italy. artu.rinaldi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Arturo Ottavio
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome 00161, Italy. asis83@yahoo.it.
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sanseverino
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome 00161, Italy. cristina.purificato@iss.it.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Purificato
authors.affiliation: Multiple Sclerosis Center, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00161, Italy. corteseanto@libero.it.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cortese
authors.affiliation: Centre for Experimental Neurological Therapies (CENTERS) Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs Sapienza University, S. Andrea Hospital-site, Rome 00161, Italy. rosella.mechelli@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Rosella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mechelli
authors.affiliation: National Center for Epidemiology, Surveillance and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome 00161, Italy. silvia.francisci@iss.it.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Francisci
authors.affiliation: Centre for Experimental Neurological Therapies (CENTERS) Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs Sapienza University, S. Andrea Hospital-site, Rome 00161, Italy. marco.salvetti@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salvetti
authors.affiliation: Multiple Sclerosis Center, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00161, Italy. enrico.millefiorini@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Millefiorini
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome 00161, Italy. sandra.gessani@iss.it.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gessani
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome 00161, Italy. mariacristina.gauzzi@iss.it.
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Gauzzi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000418:Albumins / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014809:Vitamin D-Binding Protein / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D014809:Vitamin D-Binding Protein; D016899:Interferon-beta