Astrocytic activation in relation to inflammatory markers during clinical exacerbation of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

• Published in: Journal of Neural Transmission 2007-08, Vol.114 (8), p.1011-1015
• Main Authors: Rejdak, K, Petzold, A, Kocki, T, Kurzepa, J, Grieb, P, Turski, W A, Stelmasiak, Z
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Adult; Astrocytes - immunology; Astrocytes - metabolism; Biomarkers - analysis; Biomarkers - cerebrospinal fluid; Brain - immunology; Brain - metabolism; Brain - physiopathology; Encephalitis - cerebrospinal fluid; Encephalitis - immunology; Encephalitis - physiopathology; Female; Gliosis - cerebrospinal fluid; Gliosis - immunology; Gliosis - physiopathology; Humans; Kynurenic Acid - analysis; Kynurenic Acid - cerebrospinal fluid; Male; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting - cerebrospinal fluid; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting - immunology; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting - physiopathology; Nerve Growth Factors - analysis; Nerve Growth Factors - cerebrospinal fluid; Nitrates - analysis; Nitrates - cerebrospinal fluid; Nitric Oxide - metabolism; Nitrites - analysis; Nitrites - cerebrospinal fluid; Predictive Value of Tests; Recurrence; S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; S100 Proteins - analysis; S100 Proteins - cerebrospinal fluid; Sensitivity and Specificity
• ISSN: 0300-9564; 1435-1463
• DOI: 10.1007/s00702-007-0667-y

The study aimed to assay the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of protein S100B, a biomarker of astrocyte activation in relation to kynurenic acid (KYNA) and nitric oxide (NO) metabolites, nitrate/nitrite (NOx) concentrations in acute relapse multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Twenty relapsing-remitting MS (RR-MS) patients and 10 controls were enrolled. RR-MS patients were assessed on the expanded disability status scale (EDSS) and underwent lumbar puncture. The CSF KYNA, NOx and S100B levels were significantly higher in RR-MS group compared to controls (p = 0.01, 0.001, 0.04, respectively). There was a significant correlation between CSF S100B and KYNA (p = 0.01) but not NOx (p > 0.05) in RR-MS. CSF KYNA, NOx or S100B concentrations did not correlate with disease characteristics of MS patients. Our study suggests the activation of the kynurenine pathway leading to the increase of neuroprotective KYNA in the CSF of MS patients during acute relapse what contrasts with chronic phases of the disease.