Protein carbonyl contents in cerebrospinal fluid and serum of patients affected by multiple sclerosis

It is known that oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS), in particular, protein carbonylation. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) carbonylated proteins could be used as a marker of cerebral oxidative activity in MS patients. The serum concentrations of malondialdehyde/hydroxynonenal, thiol groups and protein carbonyl groups were evaluated, together with the CSF levels of thiol groups and protein carbonyl groups in 33 MS patients and 19 patients with other inflammatory neurological diseases. Findings suggest that CSF carbonylated proteins might be used as a marker of cerebral oxidative activity in MS patients.