Cerebrospinal Fluid and Serum Markers of Inflammation in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Cytokines plays critical role in pathogenesis of disease. Until now, serum and Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of many biomarkers and their correlations with MS features have been evaluated. In this study, we measured serum and CSF levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and IFN-gamma in patients with Multiple sclerosis and their correlations with paraclinical features of MS have been evaluated. Materials and methods: CSF and serum samples were recruited from relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis patients (n = 40) and healthy subjects (n = 40). CSF and serum level measurement of IFN-gamma and CRP were performed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: CSF and serum levels of IFN-gamma and CRP were significantly higher in MS patients compared to healthy control group (P < 0.01). We found positive correlations between the CSF and serum levels of IFN-gamma and expanded disability status scale (EDSS) of the MS patients (r = +0.80, P < 0.01; r = +0.34 and P = 0.03, respectively). Moreover, there was a significant association between the serum levels of CRP and EDSS of the patients (r = +0.54 and P < 0.01). Conclusion: Our findings reveal the increased CSF and serum levels of IFN-gamma and CRP in MS patients. Our data suggest that determining serum levels of IFN-gamma and CRP could be useful for understanding and monitoring the inflammatory response in MS. Furthermore, CSF levels of IFN-gamma is more reliable and useful than its serum levels for monitoring of severity of disability in MS patients.