Cerebrospinal fluid high-mobility group box protein 1 in neuromyelitis optica and multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and multiple sclerosis (MS) are two autoimmune inflammatory demyelinating diseases in the central nervous system. Interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-17 may play important roles in the pathogenesis of these diseases. High-mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1) can activate the nuclear factor light chain enhancer of activated B cells and release cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-17. However, whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) HMGB1 levels were altered in NMO and MS patients is still unclear.

OBJECTIVES

It was our aim to measure the CSF HMGB1 concentration in NMO patients and explore their relationship with IL-6, IL-17 and disease activity.

METHODS

CSF HMGB1 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in NMO (n = 22) and MS (n = 18) patients as well as in controls (n = 14).

RESULTS

CSF HMGB1 was notably higher in the NMO group compared with controls (p = 0.007). CSF HMGB1 positively correlated with IL-6 and IL-17 in NMO patients (IL-6, p = 0.034; IL-17, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, our study suggests that CSF levels of HMGB1 are increased in patients with NMO and reflect the neuroinflammatory process.