Abstract
So far, little is known about the properties of human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) in multiple sclerosis (MS). This type 4 glycoprotein belongs to a family of genes encoding proteins whose expression is associated with the process of spermatogenesis in the epididymis. The biological function of HE4 is not fully understood. Overexpression of HE4 has been found in several malignant tumors, particularly in ovarian cancer, as well as in mesothelioma, lung, endometrial, breast, and kidney cancers. To evaluate serum HE4 in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) as compared to healthy controls. Fifty patients with RRMS undergoing first-line immunomodulatory treatment were enrolled in the prospective study. We analyzed correlations between serum HE4 levels and gender, age, disease duration, the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), annualized relapse rate (ARR), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesions. The patients from the study group had higher concentrations of HE4 than the subjects from the control group. Patients with EDSS > 2 had significantly higher concentrations of HE4. Positive correlations were found between HE4 concentrations and age as well as between HE4 concentrations and disease duration. No significant correlations were found between HE4 concentrations and EDSS or between HE4 concentrations and ARR. The results of the study indicate a novel aspect of the HE4 protein in the pathomechanisms of MS.
Highlights
No significant correlations were found between human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) concentrations and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) or between HE4 concentrations and annualized relapse rate (ARR)
The results of the study indicate a novel aspect of the HE4 protein in the pathomechanisms of multiple sclerosis (MS)
Serum human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) antigen was discovered by Kirchhoff et al in 1991.1 Its usefulness as a potential tumor marker of ovarian cancer was described by Schummer et al in 19992 and confirmed by Hellström et al in 2003.3 This type 4 glycoprotein belongs to a family of gene-encoding proteins containing whey-acidic-protein (WAP) motifs, whose expression is associated with the process of spermatogenesis in the epididymis.[4]
Summary
Serum human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) antigen was discovered by Kirchhoff et al in 1991.1 Its usefulness as a potential tumor marker of ovarian cancer was described by Schummer et al in 19992 and confirmed by Hellström et al in 2003.3 This type 4 glycoprotein belongs to a family of gene-encoding proteins containing whey-acidic-protein (WAP) motifs, whose expression is associated with the process of spermatogenesis in the epididymis.[4]. It is known that HE4 promotes tumor growth and the migration and adhesion of ovarian cancer cells Overexpression of this protein has been found in several malignant tumors, in ovarian cancer, as well as in mesothelioma, lung, endometrial, breast, and kidney cancers.[5,6]. Little is known about the properties of human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) in multiple sclerosis (MS) This type 4 glycoprotein belongs to a family of genes encoding proteins whose expression is associated with the process of spermatogenesis in the epididymis. Overexpression of HE4 has been found in several malignant tumors, in ovarian cancer, as well as in mesothelioma, lung, endometrial, breast, and kidney cancers
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