TY - JOUR

T1 - The peripheral endocannabinoid system and its association with biomarkers of inflammation in untreated patients with multiple sclerosis

AU - Gustavsen, Stefan

AU - Olsson, Anna

AU - Oturai, Annette B.

AU - Linnet, Kristian

AU - Thomsen, Ragnar

AU - Rasmussen, Brian S.

AU - Jørgensen, Christian F.

AU - Langkilde, Annika R.

AU - Sorensen, Per S.

AU - Sellebjerg, Finn

AU - Søndergaard, Helle B.

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by the MultipleMS project (Horizon 2020 European Grant, MultipleMS–733161), Danish Multiple Sclerosis Society (A39758), Aase and Ejnar Danielsen Foundation (Jr.nr. 18‐10‐0492), Dagmar Marshall Foundation (Jr.nr. 500020), Torben and Alice Frimodts Foundation (grant number not available), and King Christian the 10th Foundation (grant number not available).

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - Background and purpose: The endocannabinoid system (ECS) has been found altered in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, whether the ECS alteration is present in the early stage of MS remains unknown. First, we aimed to compare the ECS profile between newly diagnosed MS patients and healthy controls (HCs). Next, we explored the association of the ECS, biomarkers of inflammation, and clinical parameters in newly diagnosed MS patients. Methods: Whole blood gene expression of ECS components and levels of endocannabinoids in plasma were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, respectively, in 66 untreated MS patients and 46 HCs. Results: No differences were found in the gene expression or plasma levels of the selected ECS components between newly diagnosed MS patients and HCs. Interferon-γ, encoded by the gene IFNG, correlated positively (ρ = 0.60) with the expression of G protein-coupled receptor 55 (GPR55), and interleukin1β (IL1B) correlated negatively (ρ = −0.50) with cannabinoid receptor 2 (CNR2) in HCs. Conclusions: We found no alteration in the peripheral ECS between untreated patients with MS and HC. Furthermore, our results indicate that the ECS has a minor overall involvement in the early stage of MS on inflammatory markers and clinical parameters when compared with HCs.

AB - Background and purpose: The endocannabinoid system (ECS) has been found altered in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, whether the ECS alteration is present in the early stage of MS remains unknown. First, we aimed to compare the ECS profile between newly diagnosed MS patients and healthy controls (HCs). Next, we explored the association of the ECS, biomarkers of inflammation, and clinical parameters in newly diagnosed MS patients. Methods: Whole blood gene expression of ECS components and levels of endocannabinoids in plasma were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, respectively, in 66 untreated MS patients and 46 HCs. Results: No differences were found in the gene expression or plasma levels of the selected ECS components between newly diagnosed MS patients and HCs. Interferon-γ, encoded by the gene IFNG, correlated positively (ρ = 0.60) with the expression of G protein-coupled receptor 55 (GPR55), and interleukin1β (IL1B) correlated negatively (ρ = −0.50) with cannabinoid receptor 2 (CNR2) in HCs. Conclusions: We found no alteration in the peripheral ECS between untreated patients with MS and HC. Furthermore, our results indicate that the ECS has a minor overall involvement in the early stage of MS on inflammatory markers and clinical parameters when compared with HCs.

KW - 2-AG

KW - AEA

KW - anandamide

KW - biomarker

KW - endocannabinoid

KW - multiple sclerosis

U2 - 10.1111/ene.15930

DO - 10.1111/ene.15930

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 37337838

AN - SCOPUS:85164500287

VL - 30

SP - 3212

EP - 3220

JO - European Journal of Neurology

JF - European Journal of Neurology

SN - 1351-5101

IS - 10

ER -