INCREASED LEVELS OF INTERCELLULAR-ADHESION MOLECULE-1 (ICAM-1) AND TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR RECEPTOR IN THE CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID OF PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS

We investigated the presence of soluble intercellular adhesion molecul e-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor (sTNF-R) anti gens in the CSF of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) using a doubl e-determinant ELISA. Patients with acute relapsing MS during an exacer bation (p < 0.001) and those with chronic progressive MS (p < 0.001) h ad significantly increased CSF levels of sICAM-1 compared with subject s with other neurologic diseases. CSF levels of sTNF-R were also signi ficantly increased in patients with acute relapsing MS during an exace rbation (p < 0.001) and chronic progressive MS (p < 0.001) compared wi th subjects with other neurologic diseases. CSF levels of sICAM-1 and sTNF-R were positively correlated in patients with acute relapsing MS during an exacerbation (r = 0.81, p < 0.01) and chronic progressive MS (r = 0.86, p < 0.001). These results suggest that active immune react ion. 3 involving ICAM-1 and TNF-R production are present within the CN S and that both sICAM-1 and sTNF-R are important immunologic markers o f the clinical activity of MS.