alpha-synuclein and Multiple-Sclerosis--Relapsing-Remitting

The protein alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) has been linked to neuroinflammatory conditions. We investigated whether the presence of α-Syn in peripheral tissues is a surrogate of brain inflammatory status in a small group of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients in a pilot cross-sectional study. Skin biopsies and peripheral blood were sampled from 34 healthy controls and 23 MS patients for measurement of α-Syn levels. Within the RRMS group 15 patients were in remission, and 8 patients were in the relapsing phase. The protein α-Syn was evaluated by means of immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry in skin and nucleated blood cells, respectively. In the skin, α-Syn levels were lower in relapsing MS than in the other groups, both in positive area (p = .021) and staining intensity (p = .004). In blood, the percentage of α-Syn-positive lymphocytes and monocytes were not statistically different between study groups. Moreover, the use of systemic steroids did not affect α-Syn positivity in MS-relapse patients. Finally, epidermic Langerhans cells did not stain positively for α-Syn. Overall, the levels of α-Syn positivity were lower in inflammatory relapse of RRMS patients when measured in peripheral tissues. We discuss the role of α-Syn levels in inflammation according to the obtained results.

Topics: Adult; alpha-Synuclein; Antigens, CD; Biopsy; Blood Cells; Cell Nucleolus; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Flow Cytometry; Follow-Up Studies; Giant Cells, Langhans; Humans; Lectins, C-Type; Male; Mannose-Binding Lectins; Middle Aged; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting; Pilot Projects; Skin; Statistics, Nonparametric; Steroids; Young Adult