Identifying clues to molecular etiology of multiple sclerosis in South Indian patients

Abstract

BackgroundEnvironmental risk factors have a dominant role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Unhealthy lifestyle can predispose people to autoimmune diseases. MS was a rare disease in Kerala, but now, we notice frequent cases of MS at the city neurology clinic. Changing lifestyle and associated changes in the level of proinflammatory biomolecules like: leptin, soluble leptin receptor (SLR) and free fatty acids (FA) could be contributing to rise in MS incidence. ObjectiveTo identify variations in the levels of bio-molecules: leptin, SLR and FA, between MS patients and matched healthy control. Method: Leptin and SLR levels in the blood serum, were estimated using ELISA, while total FA levels, were estimated using an enzyme based calorimetric assay. ResultMean serum FA levels in MS patients (31.39±4.83nmole/100μl) were 2.7 fold higher than controls (11.54±2.66nmoles/100μl) at more than 99% CI. The differences in mean leptin and SLR levels were not statistically significant. ConclusionMS patients had high level of total FA in their blood. High FA in blood may have a role in MS pathogenesis. More in-depth study is required to understand the precise mechanism by which FA rise in MS blood sample can contribute to pathogenesis.