Ann Neurol. 2003 Jun;53(6):819-22
Vogt MH, Lopatinskaya L, Smits M, Polman CH, Nagelkerken L.
Division of Immunological and Infectious Diseases, TNO Prevention and
Health, Leiden.
In the search for proteins that might play a role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS), osteopontin (OPN) has been identified as the most prominent cytokine-encoding gene expressed within MS lesions.
Here, we report significantly increased OPN protein levels in plasma of relapsing-remitting MS patients.
In contrast, OPN protein levels in primary progressive and secondary progressive MS patients were similar to healthy control levels.
Interestingly, active relapsing-remitting patients had higher OPN protein levels than patients without relapses.