TY - JOUR

T1 - Soluble serum VCAM-1, whole blood mRNA expression and treatment response in natalizumab-treated multiple sclerosis

AU - Petersen, E R

AU - Søndergaard, H B

AU - Oturai, A B

AU - Jensen, P E H

AU - Sørensen, P S

AU - Sellebjerg, F

AU - Börnsen, L

PY - 2016/11

Y1 - 2016/11

N2 - Background Natalizumab reduces disease activity in multiple sclerosis (MS). Natalizumab binds to the very late antigen-4 and inhibits vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1)-mediated transmigration of immune cells across the blood-brain-barrier. This is associated with decreased serum concentrations of soluble (s)VCAM-1 and an altered composition of immune cell-subsets in the blood. Objective We aimed to examine if sVCAM-1 serum concentrations and whole blood mRNA expression levels of immune activation biomarkers is associated with disease activity in natalizumab-treated MS-patients. Methods sVCAM-1 serum concentrations and whole blood mRNA expression were measured in blood samples from untreated RRMS-patients and from two independent groups of natalizumab-treated patients. Results sVCAM-1 serum concentrations and whole blood expression of HLX1 and IL1B mRNA were lower, whereas expression of EBI3 mRNA was higher in natalizumab-treated MS-patients. Five genes were differentially expressed in clinically unstable natalizumab-treated MS-patients in the discovery but not in the validation group. Conclusion Decreased serum concentrations of sVCAM-1 and altered whole blood mRNA expression levels of a panel of immunomarkers, associated with natalizumab-treatment, are not sensitive markers of MS disease activity. However, decreased expression of pro-inflammatory HLX1 and IL1B and increased expression of immunoregulatory EBI3 may indicate a less pathogenic immune activation status in natalizumab-treated MS.

AB - Background Natalizumab reduces disease activity in multiple sclerosis (MS). Natalizumab binds to the very late antigen-4 and inhibits vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1)-mediated transmigration of immune cells across the blood-brain-barrier. This is associated with decreased serum concentrations of soluble (s)VCAM-1 and an altered composition of immune cell-subsets in the blood. Objective We aimed to examine if sVCAM-1 serum concentrations and whole blood mRNA expression levels of immune activation biomarkers is associated with disease activity in natalizumab-treated MS-patients. Methods sVCAM-1 serum concentrations and whole blood mRNA expression were measured in blood samples from untreated RRMS-patients and from two independent groups of natalizumab-treated patients. Results sVCAM-1 serum concentrations and whole blood expression of HLX1 and IL1B mRNA were lower, whereas expression of EBI3 mRNA was higher in natalizumab-treated MS-patients. Five genes were differentially expressed in clinically unstable natalizumab-treated MS-patients in the discovery but not in the validation group. Conclusion Decreased serum concentrations of sVCAM-1 and altered whole blood mRNA expression levels of a panel of immunomarkers, associated with natalizumab-treatment, are not sensitive markers of MS disease activity. However, decreased expression of pro-inflammatory HLX1 and IL1B and increased expression of immunoregulatory EBI3 may indicate a less pathogenic immune activation status in natalizumab-treated MS.

KW - Disease modifying therapies

KW - Immunology

KW - Multiple Sclerosis

KW - Natalizumab

KW - Relapsing/remitting

KW - SVCAM-1

U2 - 10.1016/j.msard.2016.09.001

DO - 10.1016/j.msard.2016.09.001

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 27919501

AN - SCOPUS:84988037208

VL - 10

SP - 66

EP - 72

JO - Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders

JF - Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders

SN - 2211-0348

ER -