Effect of natalizumab treatment on circulating plasmacytoid dendritic cells: a cross-sectional observational study in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Objectives: Dendritic cells (DCs) serve a critical role both in promoting and inhibiting adaptive immunity. The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of natalizumab (NTZ) treatment on DC numbers, phenotype, and function in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods: Frequency and phenotype of myeloid and plasmacytoid DCs (MDCs and PDCs, respectively) were analyzed in blood from two separate cohorts of untreated, interferon-treated, or NTZ-treated MS patients.

Evaluation of circulating osteopontin levels in an unselected cohort of patients with multiple sclerosis: relevance for biomarker development.

Background: Osteopontin (OPN) is a pleiotropic protein with important roles in inflammation and immunity that has been suggested as a candidate biomarker for disease activity in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objective: We evaluated plasma levels of OPN in an unselected cohort of MS patients, to determine its potential as a biomarker for disease subtype and/or disease activity in a regular clinical setting.

Methods: We analyzed OPN plasma levels in 492 consecutive MS patients, using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).