Increased circulating levels of vitamin D binding protein in MS patients.

Arturo Rinaldi,Marco Salvetti,Maria Gauzzi,Cristina Purificato,Rosella Mechelli,Antonio Cortese,Silvia Francisci,Isabella Sanseverino,Sandra Gessani,Enrico Millefiorini

doi:10.3390/toxins7010129

Arturo Rinaldi, Marco Salvetti + Show 8 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins7010129

Copy DOI

Journal: Toxins	Publication Date: Jan 13, 2015
Citations: 65	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Sapienza University of Rome

Abstract

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.

Highlights

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neuroinflammatory and autoimmune disorder characterized by a progressive demyelination of axons of the central nervous system (CNS) and neuronal cell degeneration.A complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors contributes to the disease, and vitamin D deficiency is currently considered a main environmental factor in multiple sclerosis (MS) etiology [1,2]
We found significantly higher plasma D binding protein (DBP) levels in patients during phases of clinical remission, when compared with healthy subjects
Comparable DBP levels were found in the subgroup undergoing IFNβ therapy (IFN) and the therapy-free one (No Ther), both displaying increased levels compared to controls (Figure 1C)

Summary

Introduction

A complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors contributes to the disease, and vitamin D (vitD) deficiency is currently considered a main environmental factor in MS etiology [1,2]. Low plasma levels of 25-hydroxyvitaminD (25(OH)D), the main circulating vitD metabolite, have been associated with a higher MS risk and a more severe clinical course [3,4]. Higher levels of circulating 25(OH)D were correlated with reduced relapse risk [5,6,7], and a recent large longitudinal prospective study showed that higher serum 25(OH)D levels robustly predicted a lower degree of MS activity and progression [8]. VitD and its metabolites are hydrophobic and circulate mainly bound to serum proteins.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion