Halina Bartosik-Psujek

Decreased level of kynurenic acid in cerebrospinal fluid of relapsing-onset multiple sclerosis patients

The present study was undertaken to measure cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of kynurenic acid (KYNA) in patients with relapsing-onset multiple sclerosis (MS) during remission or not progressing for at least 2 months. In these patients the levels of CSF KYNA were found to be significantly lower compared with subjects with non-inflammatory neurological diseases, as well as those with inflammatory disease (median (interquartile range): 0.41 (0.3-0.5) pmol/ml, n=26 vs. 0.67 (0.5-1.1), n=23, P<0.01 and 1.7 (1.5-2.6), n=16, P<0.001, respectively). These results provide further evidence of the alterations in the kynurenine pathway during remitting-onset MS.

Interleukin-8 and RANTES levels in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RR-MS) treated with cladribine.

Objective – Chemokines are involved in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of immunosuppressive therapy on production of two proinflammatory chemokines – interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) and RANTES (regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted).

Influence of vitamin C on markers of oxidative stress in the earliest period of ischemic stroke

Experimental studies have demonstrated that oxidative stress plays an essential role in the pathophysiology of ischemic stroke. The objective of the present study was to assess some serum markers of oxidative stress in patients in the early period of ischemic stroke and determine whether vitamin C supplementation affects the parameters of oxidative stress and the clinical status of patients. The study included 60 patients with ischemic stroke and 20 controls. Patients with ischemic stroke were divided into two groups: group I (n = 30), which did not receive vitamin C therapy, and group II (n = 30), which received vitamin C (500 mg/day, i.v.) for 10 days beginning on day 1 after ischemic stroke. Blood levels of bilirubin, creatinine, uric acid and total antioxidative capacity (TAC) were measured on stroke-days 1, 3, 5, and 10. Moreover, the neurological status of patients was evaluated on the same days using the NIHSS, Rankin and Bartel scales. Neurological status was also assessed with the Rankin scale after 3 months. Uric acid and TAC were decreased in group I on all measurement days. However, we did not observe any differences in the clinical status of patients receiving vitamin C during the first ten days of stroke or after 3 months. Although administration of vitamin C (500 mg/day, iv) to ischemic stroke patients since the first day ischemic stroke resulted in elevated serum levels of antioxidants, it did not substantially improve the clinical and functional status of patients after 3 months.

Paraoxonase 1 activity in different types of multiple sclerosis

Background Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) is an antioxidant enzyme bound to plasma high-density lipoproteins and is also present in the brain. Objective The aim of this study was to estimate the activity of PON1 in patients with different types of MS. Methods The PON1 activity toward paraoxon and phenyl acetate and lipid profile was examined in 40 relapsing-remitting (RR) patients in relapse, in 42 RR patients in remission, in 55 progressive MS patients and in 40 healthy individuals. Results PON1 activity did not differ in MS patients compared to control group. PON1 activity in relapse was significantly lower in comparison to the other MS groups. Hypercholesterolemia was observed in MS patients. Conclusion PON1 activity does not change in the course of stable and progressive type of MS and is decreased by the relapse of MS.

Immunomodulatory effects of vitamin D on monocyte-derived dendritic cells in multiple sclerosis

In order to evaluate the effects of vitamin D3 on monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) of relapsing—remitting multiple sclerosis patients, DCs differentiation and maturation were evaluated in vitro based on surface phenotypic changes. The expression of CD14, CD83, CD1a, CD80, CD86, CD206 and C209 was analysed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. The results reveal that vitamin D3 inhibits both the differentiation and maturation of DCs. Moreover, inhibits the secretion of IL 23/12p40 and increases the secretion of CCL2. The data suggest that one of the mechanisms of the beneficial action of vitamin D3 in multiple sclerosis may be associated with its influence on DCs.

The interleukin-10 levels as a potential indicator of positive response to interferon beta treatment of multiple sclerosis patients.

OBJECTIVES Only a part of MS patients treated with interferon beta (IFN) respond positively to the applied treatment and to date no parameter predicting the response to treatment has been found. The aim of the study was to determine whether the levels of interleukin-10 and -12 (IL-10 and IL-12) might be the parameters enabling us to distinguish those patients who would best respond to therapy before the IFN treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study included 29 patients with clinically definite relapsing-remitting MS treated with IFN beta. In all of them the levels of IL-10 and IL-12 in blood serum and cerebrospinal fluid were determined before treatment using ELISA method. After the 2-year therapy the patients responding and nonresponding to IFN therapy were distinguished on the basis of clinical parameters. RESULTS In the patients responding positively to IFN treatment the level of IL-10 in blood serum before treatment was found to be significantly lower (p<0.05) and distinctively differentiated responders from nonresponders. The IL-12 levels were similar both in cerebrospinal fluid and serum and no significant differences between responders and nonresponders were found. CONCLUSION Our observations suggest that IL-10 level may be a useful parameter to identify the patients potentially responding to IFN therapy.

Total-tau in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis decreases in secondary progressive stage of disease and reflects degree of brain atrophy.

Abstract Introduction. Tau protein is a potential marker of neuronal damage. The aim of the study is to investigate its potential role as a marker of brain atrophy in multiple sclerosis (MS). Materials and methods. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood samples were collected from 48 patients with multiple sclerosis. Total-tau (t-tau) and phospho181Thr-tau (p-tau) concentrations were assayed with commercially available INNOTEST® hTAU Ag and INNOTEST® phospho181Thr-tau(181P) and correlated with indices of brain atrophy in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical characteristics of the study population. Results. T-tau concentration in CSF was significantly higher in relapsing-remitting (RR) compared to secondary progressive (SP) MS patients (P = 0.01). Brain parenchymal fraction (BPF) was significantly decreased in SP patients (P = 0.002). BPF in the whole study population correlated inversely with Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) (r = –0.51, P = 0.0002) and Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score (MSSS) (r = –0.42, P = 0.002). T-tau in CSF in the whole patient group correlated inversely with EDSS (r = –0.58, P = 0.0006). Conclusions. The results of our study suggest that total-tau concentration in CSF in a MS population decreases in the course of disease and reflects degree of parenchymal brain loss.

Impact of cladribine on soluble adhesion molecules in multiple sclerosis.

Mitosek‐Szewczyk K, Stelmasiak Z, Bartosik‐Psujek H, Belniak E. Impact of cladribine on soluble adhesion molecules in multiple sclerosis. 
Acta Neurol Scand: 2010: 122: 409–413.
© 2010 The Authors Journal compilation

SERUM BILIRUBIN AND URIC ACID LEVELS AS THE BAD PROGNOSTIC FACTORS IN THE ISCHEMIC STROKE

Bilirubin (Bil) and uric acid (UA) are the endogenous antioxidant compounds possibly involved in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke (IS). Our goal was to find the relationship between serum Bil and UA levels with clinical presentation and outcomes of patients suffering from IS. Forty-three patients (mean age: 71.9 years, ± 12.1; women: 48.8%) with confirmed IS were enrolled. Stroke severity was assessed by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) after 1, 3, 5, and 10 days and functional disability was assessed three months after stroke onset using the Barthel Index (BI). Serum Bil and UA levels were measured 1, 3, 5, and 10 days after stroke. The difference between NIHSS scores from days 1 and 10 (improvement ratio) inversely correlated with the average UA serum level (r = −0.48, p < .01) but not with the average Bil level. Negative correlations were observed between the BI measured three months after stroke compared to the average Bil serum level (r = −0.5, p < .01). However, no relationship between BI and UA level was observed. Our results indicated that Bil and UA levels are poor prognostic factors for ischemic stroke.

Steroid therapy altered serum levels of CCL2 and CCL5 chemokines in multiple sclerosis patients during relapse.

Chemokines are involved in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of steroid therapy on the levels of CCL2 and CCL5 chemokines. The study encompassed 30 patients with clinically definite relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis who were treated with methylprednisolone due to the relapse of the disease. The control groups consisted of 20 patients during the stable stage of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and of 15 patients with noninflammatory diseases of the nervous system. Both chemokines were markedly expresssed in serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. During relapse, the levels of both chemokines differed significantly from the levels measured in both control groups. After the methylprednisolone treatment, the chemokine levels changed significantly: the levels of CCL2 increased, whilst the levels of CCL5 decreased. These alterations did not correlate with the clinical state of the patients or with the therapeutic effect of the treatment and indicated that the inflammatory reaction accompanying the relapse was receding.