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J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2003;74:495-497 doi:10.1136/jnnp.74.4.495
  • Short report

β endorphin concentrations in PBMC of patients with different clinical phenotypes of multiple sclerosis

  1. M Gironi1,
  2. R Furlan1,
  3. M Rovaris1,
  4. G Comi1,
  5. M Filippi1,
  6. A E Panerai2,
  7. P Sacerdote2
  1. 1Department of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
  2. 2Department of Pharmacology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
  1. Correspondence to:
 Dr M Gironi, San Raffaele, DIMER, Via Olgettina 48, 20132, Milan, Italy; 
 mgironi{at}dongnocchi.it
  • Received 27 August 2002
  • Accepted 2 January 2003
  • Revised 20 December 2002

Abstract

The possible link between the opioid peptide β endorphin and the heterogeneity of the clinical course of multiple sclerosis (MS) was investigated. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) concentrations of β endorphin were measured in 50 patients in different phases of MS. Thirty nine patients also underwent post-contrast magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. Among MS forms, the highest β endorphin concentrations were found in PBMC from patients with relapsing remitting MS and the lowest in patients with the progressive forms. Average β endorphin concentrations were lower, although not significantly, in patients with than in those without magnetic resonance imaging enhanced lesions. These data suggest that β endorphin may have a role in the downregulation of the inflammatory process.

Footnotes

    Responses to this article

    • Does MS-related plasma beta-endorphin vary in circadian manner?
      • J. Christopher Sullivan
      J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry published online November 19, 2003

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