Osteopontin Is Associated with Multiple Sclerosis Relapses
Mario Stampanoni Bassi,
Fabio Buttari,
Luana Gilio,
Ennio Iezzi,
Giovanni Galifi,
Fortunata Carbone,
Teresa Micillo,
Ettore Dolcetti,
Federica Azzolini,
Antonio Bruno,
Angela Borrelli,
Georgia Mandolesi,
Valentina Rovella,
Marianna Storto,
Annamaria Finardi,
Roberto Furlan,
Diego Centonze,
Giuseppe Matarese
Affiliations
Mario Stampanoni Bassi
IRCCS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy
Fabio Buttari
IRCCS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy
Luana Gilio
IRCCS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy
Ennio Iezzi
IRCCS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy
Giovanni Galifi
IRCCS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy
Fortunata Carbone
Neuroimmunology Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00179 Rome, Italy
Teresa Micillo
Treg Cell Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
Ettore Dolcetti
IRCCS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy
Federica Azzolini
IRCCS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy
Antonio Bruno
IRCCS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy
Angela Borrelli
IRCCS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy
Georgia Mandolesi
Synaptic Immunopathology Lab, IRCCS San Raffaele, 00163 Rome, Italy
Valentina Rovella
Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University, 00133 Rome, Italy
Marianna Storto
IRCCS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy
Annamaria Finardi
Clinical Neuroimmunology Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe), Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
Roberto Furlan
Clinical Neuroimmunology Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe), Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
Diego Centonze
IRCCS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy
Giuseppe Matarese
Laboratory of Immunology, Institute of Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology, National Research Council, 80131 Naples, Italy
Background: Osteopontin, an extracellular matrix protein involved in bone remodeling, tissue repair and inflammation, has previously been associated with increased inflammation and neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS), promoting a worse disease course. Osteopontin is also likely involved in acute MS relapses. Methods: In 47 patients with relapsing-remitting MS, we explored the correlation between the time elapsed between the last clinical relapse and lumbar puncture, and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of osteopontin and a group of inflammatory cytokines and adipokines such as resistin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, osteoprotegerin, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-6 and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra). We also analyzed the correlations between CSF levels of osteopontin and the other CSF molecules considered. Results: Osteopontin CSF concentrations were higher in patients with a shorter time interval between the last clinical relapse and CSF withdrawal. In addition, CSF levels of osteopontin were positively correlated with the proinflammatory cytokines IL-2 and IL-6 and negatively correlated with the anti-inflammatory molecule IL-1ra. Conclusions: Our results further suggest the role of osteopontin in acute MS relapses showing that, in proximity to relapses, osteopontin expression in CSF may be increased along with other proinflammatory mediators and correlated with decreased concentrations of anti-inflammatory molecules.
