Increased Circulating Levels of Vitamin D Binding Protein in MS Patients
Arturo Ottavio Rinaldi,
Isabella Sanseverino,
Cristina Purificato,
Antonio Cortese,
Rosella Mechelli,
Silvia Francisci,
Marco Salvetti,
Enrico Millefiorini,
Sandra Gessani,
Maria Cristina Gauzzi
Affiliations
Arturo Ottavio Rinaldi
Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome 00161, Italy
Isabella Sanseverino
Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome 00161, Italy
Cristina Purificato
Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome 00161, Italy
Antonio Cortese
Multiple Sclerosis Center, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00161, Italy
Rosella Mechelli
Centre for Experimental Neurological Therapies (CENTERS) Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs Sapienza University, S. Andrea Hospital-site, Rome 00161, Italy
Silvia Francisci
National Center for Epidemiology, Surveillance and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome 00161, Italy
Marco Salvetti
Centre for Experimental Neurological Therapies (CENTERS) Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs Sapienza University, S. Andrea Hospital-site, Rome 00161, Italy
Enrico Millefiorini
Multiple Sclerosis Center, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00161, Italy
Sandra Gessani
Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome 00161, Italy
Maria Cristina Gauzzi
Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome 00161, Italy
Vitamin D (vitD) low status is currently considered a main environmental factor in multiple sclerosis (MS) etiology and pathogenesis. VitD and its metabolites are highly hydrophobic and circulate mostly bound to the vitamin D binding protein (DBP) and with lower affinity to albumin, while less than 1% are in a free form. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the circulating levels of either of the two vitD plasma carriers and/or their relationship are altered in MS. We measured DBP and albumin plasma levels in 28 MS patients and 24 healthy controls. MS patients were found to have higher DBP levels than healthy subjects. Concomitant interferon beta therapy did not influence DBP concentration, and the difference with the control group was significant in both females and males. No significant correlation between DBP and albumin levels was observed either in healthy controls or in patients. These observations suggest the involvement of DBP in the patho-physiology of MS.
