Cerebrospinal fluid analysis of pericytic mediators in clinically isolated syndrome and multiple sclerosis: A preliminary study

Abstract

Objectives: In many studies, blood brain barrier has been shown to be compromised in multiple sclerosis patients. Pericytes play an active role in ensuring the continuity of the blood brain barrier along with a series of cells. In this study, the effect of pericytic dysfunction on the development of demyelinating plaques in patients with multiple sclerosis was investigated. Material and Method: Concentrations of pericyte dysfunction mediators (PDGFbb, MMP9, TIMP3 and ADAM17) in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and healthy control group were measured by ELISA and oligoclonal bands (OCB) were investigated. We aimed to determine whether the concentration of these mediators differed between groups and whether they correlated with lesion load, number of attacks, and EDSS scores. Results: Concentrations of all four mediators were similar in patients with CIS and RRMS. However, both groups were found to be higher than the healthy group. In the CIS and RRMS groups, the levels of the mediators were not correlated with any parameters examined. However, the levels of PDGFbb (p=0.045), MMP9 (p=0.037), and TIMP3 (p=0.033) were higher in OCB positive patients than in those without OCB, whereas ADAM17 levels remained unchanged. Conclusion: This study shows that pericytes may play a role in the pathogenesis of MS from early stages of the disease. The presence of higher levels in patients with OCB suggests that pericyte dysfunction may be associated with OCB formation. Keywords: Multiple sclerosis, clinically isolated syndrome, pericyte, cerebrospinal fluid, neuroinflammation