Exosomes From Subjects With Multiple Sclerosis Express EBV-Derived Proteins and Activate Monocyte-Derived Macrophages.

Objective: To investigate in a cross-sectional study the effect of serum-derived exosomes on primary human blood monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) comparing exosomes from healthy donors vs patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in remission and in relapse and to assess whether the response correlates with exosomal Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) protein expression.

Methods: A total of 45 serum-derived exosome preparations were isolated from patients and healthy controls and verified for the expression of exosomal and EBV markers. MDMs were differentiated from monocytes for 7 days and incubated for 24 hours with exosomes, and then, cell supernatants were collected for cytokine measurement by cytometric bead array.

Hypovitaminosis D in a Young Lebanese Population: Effect of GC Gene Polymorphisms on Vitamin D and Vitamin D Binding Protein Levels.

Bioactive vitamin D is a steroid hormone transported in blood via the vitamin D binding protein (DBP). Our study aimed to investigate the vitamin D status in a young Lebanese population and study the association of hypovitaminosis with levels of DBP. Polymorphisms in the GC gene that encodes DBP were also screened.