Apolipoprotein A-I possessing activity of defensin proteins modifies structure of plasma membranes

Evaluation of S100A12 and Apo-A1 plasma level potency in untreated new relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients and their family members

Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease of the spinal cord and brain. Receptor for advanced glycation end products and Apolipoprotein A1 (Apo-AI) have been recommended to have a pathogenic role in the neuroinflammatory disorder as multiple sclerosis. The purpose of this research was to measure the plasma levels of S100A12 and Apo-A1 in the first-degree family of relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients. Plasma levels of S100A12 & Apo-A1 were evaluated via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the thirty-five new cases of untreated patients with deterministic RRMS according to the McDonald criteria, twenty-four healthy controls, and twenty-six first-degree members of untreated RRMS patients (called them as high-risk group). The main findings of this study were as follows: the plasma level of S100A12 was significantly lower in the new cases of untreated RRMS (P ≤ 0.05; 0.045) and high-risk (P ≤ 0.05; 0.001) groups. Although the plasma protein level of Apo-A1 was reduced significantly in the high-risk group (P < 0.05, P = 0.003) as compared to the healthy control group, there was no significant difference in the untreated RRMS patients (P = 0.379). The plasma level of vitamin D3 in both RRMS patients and high-risk groups displayed significance reduction, although, there was no significant association between vitamin D and S100A12 & Apo-A1 levels. Given the role of S100A12 and Apo-A1 in the inflammatory process performed in the first-degree family members of the RRMS patients, which revealed a significant decrease in this group, we concluded that they can be considered as one of the contributing factors in the pathogenesis of MS, though more research is needed before assuming them as predictive biomarkers.

Importance of Apolipoprotein A-I in Multiple Sclerosis

Jean-Martin Charcot has first described multiple sclerosis (MS) as a disease of the central nervous system (CNS) over a century ago. MS remains incurable today, and treatment options are limited to disease modifying drugs. Over the years, significant advances in understanding disease pathology have been made in autoimmune and neurodegenerative components. Despite the fact that brain is the most lipid rich organ in human body, the importance of lipid metabolism has not been extensively studied in this disorder. In MS, the CNS is under attack by a person's own immune system. Autoantigens and autoantibodies are known to cause devastation of myelin through up regulation of T-cells and cytokines, which penetrate through the blood-brain barrier to cause inflammation and myelin destruction. The anti-inflammatory role of high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) has been implicated in a plethora of biological processes: vasodilation, immunity to infection, oxidation, inflammation, and apoptosis. However, it is not known what role HDL plays in neurological function and myelin repair in MS. Understanding of lipid metabolism in the CNS and in the periphery might unveil new therapeutic targets and explain the partial success of some existing MS therapies.