Association between soluble L-selectin and anti-JCV antibodies in natalizumab-treated relapsing-remitting MS patients

Abstract Objective In relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients treated with natalizumab, the low level of L-selectin-expressing CD4+ T cells has been associated with the risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). In this study, our aim was to correlate the levels of soluble L-selectin and the anti-JCV antibody index in the sera of RRMS patients treated with natalizumab. Methods This study included 99 subjects, including 44 RRMS patients treated with natalizumab, 30 with interferon beta (IFN-β) and 25 healthy controls. The levels of soluble l -selectin (sL-selectin) in sera were measured by ELISA, and the anti-JC Virus (JCV) antibody index was determined by the second–generation ELISA (STRATIFY JCV TM DxSelect TM ) assay. Results A significant correlation was found between the levels of sL-selectin and anti-JCV antibody indices in sera in the natalizumab-treated patients ( r =0.402; p =0.007; n =44), but not in those treated with IFN-β. This correlation became even stronger in JCV seropositive patients treated with natalizumab for longer than 18 months ( r =0.529; p =0.043; n =15). Conclusion The results support the hypothesis of sL-selectin being connected to the anti-JCV antibody index values and possibly cellular L-selectin. Measurement of serum sL-selectin should be evaluated further as a potential biomarker for predicting the risk of developing PML.