Markers of oxidative/nitrative damage of plasma proteins correlated with EDSS and BDI scores in patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis

ABSTRACT

Objectives: The objective of the present study was to evaluate oxidative/nitrative stress in the plasma of 50 patients suffering from the secondary progressive course of multiple sclerosis (MS), and to verify its correlation with physical and mental disability as assessed by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).

Methods: Oxidative and nitrative damage to proteins was determined by the level of carbonyl groups and 3-nitrotyrosine using ELISA test. Based on the reaction with Ellman’s reagent, we estimated the concentration of oxidized thiol groups. Additionally, we measured the level of lipid peroxidation.

Results: In plasma drawn from MS patients, we observed a significantly higher level of 3-NT (92%; P < 0.0003), carbonyl groups (29%; P < 0.0001) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (73%; P < 0.0001), as well as a lower concentration of thiol groups (33%; P < 0.0001), in comparison to healthy subjects. We noted positive correlations between the level of carbonyl groups or 3-NT and both diagnostic parameters, EDSS and BDI. Negative correlations were observed between concentration of -SH groups and EDSS and BDI.

Conclusion: Our results indicate that impaired red-ox balance can significantly promote neurodegeneration in secondary progressive MS.

KEYWORDS:

• Oxidative/nitrative stress
• secondary progressive multiple sclerosis
• EDSS
• BDI

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Agnieszka Morel is a PhD student in the Department of General Biochemistry of the University of Lodz. Her main research interests include the biological activity of blood platelets and platelet reactivity in multiple sclerosis.

Michał Bijak has obtained his PhD in biological sciences with biochemistry as a specialty. Since 2014, he has worked as an assistant professor at the Department of General Biochemistry of the University of Lodz. His main research interests include problems connected with thrombotic disorders.

Marta Niwald is a rehabilitation specialist in training from Poland (4/6 year, residency system) and also an assistant in Physical Medicine Department at Medical University in Lodz. Marta Niwald’s main interests are neurological rehabilitation and multiple Elżbieta Miller since 2012 has the degree of habilitated doctor in medical sciences, the discipline of medicine, as specialty medical rehabilitation. She is employed as an associate professor and the head of the Department of Physical Medicine, Medical University of Lodz. She is also the head of Neurorehabilitation Ward III General Hospital of Lodz, Poland. Her main fields of research include the markers of multiple sclerosis and the effect of additional therapies on biochemical parameters in neurodegeneration.

Joanna Saluk since 2012 has the degree of habilitated doctor in biological sciences, the discipline of biochemistry, as specialty biochemistry of hemostasis. She is employed as an associate professor in the Department of General Biochemistry, University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection. Her main research interests include the biological activity of blood platelets; functioning of homeostasis and platelet reactivity in autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases.