CSF proteome analysis in multiple sclerosis patients by two-dimensional electrophoresis

Background and purpose:  In recent years, different approaches have been used to investigate changes of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteome in patients affected by multiple sclerosis (MS) with the aim to identify protein markers with potential diagnostic or prognostic value. Because of the lack of standardization of current proteomic techniques, contrasting results were achieved until now in different laboratories. In this study, we compare CSF proteome of 10 relapsing–remitting MS (RR-MS) patients, 11 patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), and 10 control subjects without neurological or systemic diseases. Methods:  The differential expression of CSF proteins amongst these cohorts of patients was investigated by using two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Results and conclusions:  We found an overexpression of IgG free kappa light chain protein in both CIS and RR-MS patients, compared with control subjects and an increased expression of an apolipoprotein E isoform in RR-MS patients, compared with CIS and control groups. Our results confirm the presence of CSF proteome changes in MS patients. Future research should be aimed to investigate the role of these candidate CSF markers in larger cohorts of CIS and MS patients.