IP-10 and MCP-1 levels in CSF and serum from multiple sclerosis patients with different clinical subtypes of the disease

Abstract Interferon-γ–inducible Protein-10 (IP-10) and Monocyte Chemotactic Protein-1 (MCP-1) levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the CSF and in the serum from 74 patients affected by different clinical forms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), including 39 patients with Relapsing Remitting (RR) MS in an active phase, 14 patients in a stable phase of the disease, 12 patients with Secondary Progressive (SP) MS and 9 patients with Primary Progressive (PP) MS. IP-10 and MCP-1 levels were also determined in 19 subjects with no neurological diseases or major systemic disorders, 18 patients with non-inflammatory neurological diseases, as well as in 15 patients with other inflammatory neurological diseases. IP-10 levels were significantly elevated in CSF and serum from RR and SP, but not PP–MS patients. On the contrary, MCP-1 levels were decreased in CSF and serum of all MS patients. CSF concentrations of IP-10 and MCP-1 did not significantly correlate neither with each other, nor with CSF mononuclear cell count, albumin quotient or CSF IgG index. No correlation between disease duration, clinical course or EDSS score and chemokine levels was found. IP-10 and MCP-1 undergo modifications in different subtypes of the disease: IP-10 levels in CSF and serum samples are markedly increased when inflammation is prominent, and not in PP–MS patients, where inflammation is less evident. MCP-1 decrease in CSF and serum from MS patients could be related to the regulation of T-cell polarization.