the expression of vegf-a is down regulated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosisvegf-a下降的表达调节外周血单核细胞的继发性进展型多发性硬化症患者.pdf

The Expression of VEGF-A Is Down Regulated in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Patients with Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis 1 2. ¨ 1. 1 1 3 Ellen Iacobaeus *, Petra Amoudruz , Mikael Strom , Mohsen Khademi , Lou Brundin , Jan Hillert , 1 ¨ 2 1 4 1 Ingrid Kockum , Vivianne Malmstrom , Tomas Olsson , Emma Tham , Fredrik Piehl 1 Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Neuroimmunology Unit, Karolinska Institute Solna, Center for Molecular Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden, 2 Department of Medicine, Rheumatology Unit, Karolinska Institute Solna, Center for Molecular Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden, 3 Department of Clinical Neuroscience, The Multiple Sclerosis Research Group, Karolinska Institute Solna, Center for Molecular Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden, 4 Department of Clinical Genetics, L5:03, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden Abstract Background: Most patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) eventually enter a secondary progressive (SPMS) phase, characterized by increasing neurological disability. The mechanisms underlying transition to SPMS are unknown and effective treatments and biomarkers are lacking. Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) is an angiogenic factor with neuroprotective effects that has been associated with neurodegenerative diseases. SPMS has a prominent neurodegenerative facet and we investigated a possible role for VEGF-A during transition from RRMS to SPMS. Methodology/Principal Findings: VEGF-A mRNA expre