title: Increased resistin levels in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with neuromyelitis optica.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Resistin, which acts as a pro-inflammatory cytokine, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases. However, the involvement of resistin in neuromyelitis optica (NMO), a severe inflammatory central nervous system disorder that targets the optic nerve and spinal cord, remains unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) resistin levels in patients with NMO and controls matched by age and sex. The link between resistin levels and clinical variables in NMO was subsequently assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The concentrations of serum and CSF resistin were significantly higher in patients with NMO than in controls, and decreased following treatment with methylprednisolone. High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels and annualized relapse rate positively correlated with resistin levels in patients with NMO.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Resistin might be a useful biomarker of inflammation in NMO, and a potential target for the treatment of NMO.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Da-Qi
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Li-Min
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Lin-Jie
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Chun-Li
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory Center, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Li-Sha
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China; Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Fu-Dong
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: yangli2001@tmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D052243:Resistin / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*
chemical_list: C499624:RETN protein, human; D052243:Resistin
keywords: Annualized relapse rate; Inflammation; Neuromyelitis optica; Resistin; hs-CRP