Tau protein levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of the patients with multiple sclerosis in an attack period: Low levels of tau protein may have significance, too

Abstract

ObjectivesAxonal loss is the cause of permanent neurologic disability in patients with MS. There are a lot of candidates to be a surrogate biological marker of the axonal loss in MS including tau protein. In the present study, we aimed to assess the levels of the tau protein in patients with MS, and in neurologically healthy controls. Patients and methodsWe included 41 patients with MS (32 RRMS, 9 SPMS) in this study. All the patients with MS were in an attack period. Control group was consist of 18 neurologically healty patients who underwent spinal anesthesia for orthopedic operations. The CSF tau protein level was measured by double antibody sandwich ELİSA. ResultsThe patients with RRMS had a higher tau protein level than the patients with SPMS and the control group. The patients with SPMS had a lower tau protein level than the control group. ConclusionHigh levels of tau protein in the CSF of RRMS patients in an attack period may indicate ongoing axonal transection owing to inflammation. Due to the brain atrophy, the patients with SPMS have less neurons to produce tau protein. The low levels of tau protein in the CSF of SPMS patients may denote axonal degeneration.