Soluble Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products (sRAGE) is Up-Regulated in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Treated with Interferon β-1a

Background/Aims: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system. Considering the role of immune system in its pathogenesis, researchers have focused on evaluation of the expression of immune-related genes or proteins in MS patients. Among proteins whose participation in inflammatory process has been documented is the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE). Methods: In the present study, we compared RAGE transcript levels by means of quantitative real-time PCR as well as the serum level of soluble RAGE (sRAGE) by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 50 IFN beta-1a responsive relapsing-remitting MS patients when compared with age and sexmatched healthy subjects. Results: Elevated expression of RAGE as well as higher levels of sRAGE were detected in IFN-beta responsive MS patients compared with the controls. A significant inverse correlation between sRAGE plasma concentrations and the expanded disability status scale (EDSS) was also detected in which each unit of increase in sRAGE level resulted in a 0.308 unit decrease in EDSS. Conclusion: Considering the stable clinical state of the MS patients in this study and their response to IFN beta-1a, the elevated levels of sRAGE in patients compared with healthy subjects could be related to the effects of this kind of treatment. (C) 2018 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger AG, Basel