Journal of Neuroinflammation (Oct 2010)

Diagnostic potential of plasma carboxymethyllysine and carboxyethyllysine in multiple sclerosis

  • Weinstock-Guttmann Bianca,
  • Hojnacki David,
  • Kinkel Peter,
  • Wang Ping,
  • Sternberg Daniel,
  • Hennies Cassandra,
  • Sternberg Zohara,
  • Munschauer Frederick

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1742-2094-7-72
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 1
p. 72

Abstract

Read online

Abstract Background This study compared the level of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), N-(Carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) and N-(Carboxyethyl)lysine (CEL), in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and healthy controls (HCs), correlating these markers with clinical indicators of MS disease severity. Methods CML and CEL plasma levels were analyzed in 99 MS patients and 43 HCs by tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). Patients were stratified based on drug modifying therapies (DMTs) including interferon beta, glatiramer acetate and natalizumab. Results The level of plasma CEL, but not CML, was significantly higher in DMT-naïve MS patients when compared to HCs (P Conclusion Our results suggest that AGEs in general and CEL in particular could be useful biomarkers in MS clinical practice. Longitudinal studies are warranted to determine any causal relationship between changes in plasma level of AGEs and MS disease pathology. These studies will pave the way for use of AGE inhibitors and AGE-breaking agents as new therapeutic modalities in MS.