Microglial/macrophage activation in the cerebrospinal fluid of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders.

Abstract

The aims of this pilot study were to investigate the levels of biomarkers of microglial/macrophage activation-YKL-40, sCD163, and sCD14-in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and determine the possible associations between these biomarkers and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores. We measured the levels of three microglia-/macrophage-related proteins (YKL-40, soluble CD163, and soluble CD14) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. In addition, patients' neurological disability levels were assessed using EDSS scores. NMOSD patients had significantly higher CSF levels of YKL-40(210.52±161.62 for NMOSD and 63.18±9.22 for control), sCD163 (87.23±56.85 for NMOSD and 58.14±7.66 for control), and sCD14 (68.22±24.11 for NMOSD and 55.75±9.48 for control) compared with controls. Furthermore, these biomarker levels were positively correlated with EDSS scores in patients with NMOSD (r=0.303, p=.002 for YKL-40; r=0310, p=.001 for sCD14; r=0.250, p=.011 for sCD163), but not in patients with multiple sclerosis or glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytopathy. Our findings suggest that microglial/macrophage activation may be implicated in the pathogenesis of NMOSD.