Increased level of plasma salusin-α and salusin-β in patients with multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a potentially progressive autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system. The pathology of MS is characterized by inflammation, demyelination, reactive gliosis and neuronal damage. Salusin-α and salusin-β have been shown to be widely expressed in many tissues, including the central nervous system. In our study, we investigated whether salusin-α and salusin-β peptides had a relation with inflammation and whether it is related to Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) disease.

METHODS: Forty healthy controls and forty patients with RRMS were included in the study. Salusin-α and Salusin-β levels were measured by Enzyme-linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay (ELISA).

RESULTS: Salusin-α and salusin-β levels were high at a significant level in RRMS patients compared to healthy controls (p < 0.0001). We found a strong positive correlation between salusin-α and salusin-β levels (p < 0.0001, r = 0,9925).

CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we found that there was a relationship between salusin-α and salusin-β levels, and MS disease. Since RRMS is the first stage of MS and its most common type, it is important to perform biomarker studies in this period in terms of early planning of treatment. Although salusin-α and salusin-β levels increase in RRMS patients, further studies are needed to understand its relation with other neurological and inflammatory diseases to define it as a biomarker.