Cerebrospinal fluid growth-associated protein 43 in multiple sclerosis

Sci Rep. 2019 Nov 21;9(1):17309. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-54032-1.

Abstract

Neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS) correlates with disease progression and reparative processes may be triggered. Growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43) exhibits induced expression during axonal growth and reduced expression during MS progression. We aimed to evaluate if GAP-43 can serve as a biomarker of regeneration in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and whether disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) influence GAP-43 concentration in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). GAP-43 was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 105 MS patients (73 RRMS, 12 primary progressive MS, 20 secondary progressive MS) and 23 healthy controls (HCs). In 35 of the patients, lumbar puncture, clinical assessment, and magnetic resonance imaging was performed before initiation of therapeutic intervention, and at follow-up. CSF GAP-43 concentration was significantly lower in progressive MS compared with HCs (p = 0.004) and RRMS (p = < 0.001) and correlated negatively with disability (p = 0.026). However, DMTs did not alter CSF GAP-43. Interestingly, in RRMS CSF GAP-43 levels were higher in patients with signs of active inflammatory disease than in patients in remission (p = 0.042). According to CSF GAP-43 concentrations, regeneration seems reduced in progressive MS, increased during disease activity in RRMS but is unaffected by treatment of highly active DMTs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biomarkers / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Disease Progression
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • GAP-43 Protein / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • GAP-43 Protein / immunology
  • Healthy Volunteers
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / diagnosis*
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / immunology
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / therapy
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / diagnosis*
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / immunology
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / therapy
  • Nerve Regeneration / immunology*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • GAP-43 Protein