%0 Journal Article
%T Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and its soluble receptors are associated with disability, disability progression and clinical forms of multiple sclerosis.
%A Ribeiro CM
%A Oliveira SR
%A Alfieri DF
%A Flauzino T
%A Kaimen-Maciel DR
%A Simão ANC
%A Maes M
%A Reiche EMV
%J Inflamm Res
%V 68
%N 12
%D Dec 2019
%M 31559449
%F 6.986
%R 10.1007/s00011-019-01286-0
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B>The association between tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, soluble TNF receptor (sTNFR)1 and sTNFR2 with clinical characteristics of multiple sclerosis (MS) remains unclear.<BR><B>OBJECTIVE: </B>To examine whether TNF-α, sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 are associated with MS diagnosis, disability, disability progression and clinical forms of MS.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>The study included 147 patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), 21 with progressive clinical forms (ProgMS) and 70 controls. Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) evaluated disability as mild (EDSS < 3.0) or moderate/high (EDSS ≥ 3.0). Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score (MSSS) evaluated disability progression as no progression (MSSS < 5) and progression (MSSS ≥ 5). Baseline data of subjects and plasma levels of TNF-α, sTNFR1, sTNFR2 were obtained.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>The MS diagnosis explained 44.6% and 12.3% of TNF-α and sTNFR2 levels, respectively. Moderate/high disability and disability progression were best predicted by sTNFR1 and age (positively) and ProgMS were best predicted by sTNFR1 (positively) and sTNFR2 (negatively), coupled with age and sex. A composite score reflecting the sTNFR1/sTNFR2 ratio showed a positive association with ProgMS after adjusting for age and sex.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Increased sTNFR1 and age were positively associated with disability and disability progression, whereas increased sTNFR1 (positively) and sTNFR2 (negatively) were associated with ProgMS, suggesting a distinct role of them in the immunopathological mechanisms of MS.