My nights are more inflammatory than your days

Epub: Wipfler et al. Circadian rhythmicity of inflammatory serum parameters: a neglected issue in the search of biomarkers in multiple sclerosis. J Neurol. 2012 Aug 9.

Inflammatory serum parameters are intensely investigated in the search of biomarkers for disease activity and treatment response in multiple sclerosis (MS). A reason for contradictory results might be the timing of blood collection for analyzing serum concentrations of inflammatory parameters which are subject to diurnal changes. We included 34 untreated patients with relapsing-remitting MS and 34 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. 12 MS patients showed acute disease activity in corresponding MRI scans. Blood samples were obtained at 7.00, 11.00 am, 2.30, 6.00 and 9.30 pm within 1 day. We determined serum levels of cortisol and inflammatory markers including soluble tumor necrosis factor-beta (sTNF-β), soluble TNF-Receptor-1 (sTNF-R1) and -2 (sTNF-2), soluble vascular adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) by ELISA. We observed significantly higher serum levels of sTNF-R1 (p < 0.001) and sTNF-R2 (p < 0.001) in the morning and a significant decline of sICAM-1 (p < 0.005) and sVCAM-1 (p < 0.001) in the afternoon in both, MS patients and healthy controls. Comparison of diurnal serum levels between MS patients with active versus with non-active disease revealed significantly higher serum levels of sVCAM-1 (p < 0.05) around noon and in the early afternoon in MS patients with active disease. A significant decline of sICAM-1 (p < 0.05) in the afternoon was seen in MS patients with active and non-active disease. Our data indicate that increased awareness of potential diurnal serum concentration changes of biomarkers can eliminate one major cause of biased data as they occur in most of the investigated immunological parameters.

 


This study shows one of the reasons why data of inflammatory markers is so difficult to rely on and even more difficult to replicate. Unlike our little friends (mice) who live in standardized temperature and humidity with the same food everyday, we humans tend to be individuals with a wide range of behaviours. In my opinion, even if we would collect samples say at 10am, Prof G and Mouse Doctor would be at very different circadian rhythms moments. Large cohorts may help diffuse this circadian effect.

Labels: ,