Increased serum and CSF levels of S100B reflect glial cells degeneration in PD

Abstract

There is increasing evidence that glial cells degeneration is involved in the initiation and progression of PD in addition to neural structures. S100B is a calcium binding protein, mainly expressed and produced in astrocytes. It has been shown that S100B is only expressed by a subtype of mature astrocytes that ensheath blood vessels. S100B is also a candidate peripheral biomarker of blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability. Subjects were 28 patients with PD and 28 healthy controls. All PD and control subjects underwent S100B assessment in serum and csf. Both groups were matched for gender but not for age (PD 65.18 ± 8,64 vs controls 48.14 ± 13.71 years; p > 0.05). S100B levels in serum and csf were assessed using commercially available ELISA kit. We found statistically significant differences in serum levels of S100B protein between PD and healthy controls groups (24,65 ± 11.94 vs 14,47 ± 7,24 pg/ml; p < 0.05). Csf levels of S100B protein in PD patients were also significantly higher than in healthy controls (133,52 ± 54.72 vs 114,86 ± 120.69 pg/ml; p < 0.05). No correlation was found between serum and csf levels of S100B among healthy control subjects. Statistically significant positive correlation was found between serum and csf levels of S100B among PD patients (p = 0.003). Results of our study confirm glial cells damage in PD. Additionally, a positive correalation between csf and serum levels of S100B among parkinsonian patients, confirm BBB damage in PD and suport the concept of S100B being a biomarker of BBB permeability.