Open AccessMicroglial/macrophage activation in the cerebrospinal fluid of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders
Author(s) -
Li Jinghong,
He Yan,
Wang Honghao,
Chen Jinyu
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
brain and behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 41
ISSN - 2162-3279
DOI - 10.1002/brb3.2798
Subject(s) - neuromyelitis optica , cerebrospinal fluid , multiple sclerosis , expanded disability status scale , medicine , biomarker , immunology , microglia , spectrum disorder , glial fibrillary acidic protein , clinically isolated syndrome , gastroenterology , pathology , inflammation , psychiatry , immunohistochemistry , chemistry , biochemistry
Abstract Aim The aims of this pilot study were to investigate the levels of biomarkers of microglial/macrophage activation—YKL‐40, sCD163, and sCD14—in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and determine the possible associations between these biomarkers and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores. Methods We measured the levels of three microglia‐/macrophage‐related proteins (YKL‐40, soluble CD163, and soluble CD14) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays. In addition, patients’ neurological disability levels were assessed using EDSS scores. Results NMOSD patients had significantly higher CSF levels of YKL‐40(210.52 ± 161.62 for NMOSD and 63.18 ± 9.22 for control), sCD163 (87.23 ± 56.85 for NMOSD and 58.14 ± 7.66 for control), and sCD14 (68.22 ± 24.11 for NMOSD and 55.75 ± 9.48 for control) compared with controls. Furthermore, these biomarker levels were positively correlated with EDSS scores in patients with NMOSD ( r = 0.303, p = .002 for YKL‐40; r = 0310, p = .001 for sCD14; r = 0.250, p = .011 for sCD163), but not in patients with multiple sclerosis or glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytopathy. Conclusion Our findings suggest that microglial/macrophage activation may be implicated in the pathogenesis of NMOSD.