Decreased levels of the brain specific 24S-hydroxycholesterol and cholesterol precursors in serum of multiple sclerosis patients

• Published in: Neuroscience letters 2003-08, Vol.347 (3), p.159-162
• Main Authors: Teunissen, C.E, Dijkstra, C.D, Polman, C.H, Hoogervorst, E.L.J, von Bergmann, K, Lütjohann, D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 24S-hydroxycholesterol; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; Brain - metabolism; Cholesterol - metabolism; Cholesterol synthesis; Female; Humans; Hydroxycholesterols - blood; Hydroxycholesterols - chemistry; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Multiple sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis - blood; Multiple sclerosis and variants. Guillain barré syndrome and other inflammatory polyneuropathies. Leukoencephalitis; Neurology; Serum markers; Stereoisomerism
• ISSN: 0304-3940; 1872-7972
• DOI: 10.1016/S0304-3940(03)00667-0

The serum concentration of 24S-hydroxycholesterol reflecting brain cholesterol turnover may be a possible marker for neurodegeneration and demyelination in multiple sclerosis. Serum was analyzed for cholesterol precursors and oxysterols in multiple sclerosis patients of different clinical subtypes ( n=20 each subtype) and in 37 healthy controls. Serum 24S-hydroxycholesterol levels were lower in primary progressive and in older relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis patients. Furthermore, serum levels of lathosterol were decreased in all clinical subtypes. The results are important given recent interest in statin treatment in multiple sclerosis, which will further decrease the cholesterol precursor and oxysterol levels. The decreased levels of brain specific and peripheral sterols indicate a role for cholesterol homeostasis in relation to the pathology of multiple sclerosis, at least in the primary progressive clinical subtype.