Objective: In relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients treated with natalizumab, the low level of L-selectin-expressing CD4+ T cells has been associated with the risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). In this study, our aim was to correlate the levels of soluble L-selectin and the anti-JCV antibody index in the sera of RRMS patients treated with natalizumab.
Methods: This study included 99 subjects, including 44 RRMS patients treated with natalizumab, 30 with interferon beta (IFN-β) and 25 healthy controls. The levels of soluble L-selectin (sL-selectin) in sera were measured by ELISA, and the anti-JC Virus (JCV) antibody index was determined by the second-generation ELISA (STRATIFY JCV™ DxSelect™) assay.
Results: A significant correlation was found between the levels of sL-selectin and anti-JCV antibody indices in sera in the natalizumab-treated patients (r=0.402; p=0.007; n=44), but not in those treated with IFN-β. This correlation became even stronger in JCV seropositive patients treated with natalizumab for longer than 18 months (r=0.529; p=0.043; n=15).
Conclusion: The results support the hypothesis of sL-selectin being connected to the anti-JCV antibody index values and possibly cellular L-selectin. Measurement of serum sL-selectin should be evaluated further as a potential biomarker for predicting the risk of developing PML.
Keywords: Anti-JCV antibody index; Biomarkers; Multiple sclerosis; Natalizumab; Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy; sL-selectin.
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