Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1) mRNA level correlates with magnetic resonance imaging disease activity in Multiple Sclerosis patients

Eight relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) patients were tested for the level of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1) mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells every 15 days for 6 months. Disease activity was evaluated every 4 weeks by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and neurological examination. An inverse correlation was found between the level of TGF beta 1 mRNA and MRI disease activity. The level of TGF beta 1 mRNA predicted the presence of disease activity in the scans performed 2-4 weeks later with high sensitivity (88%) and specificity (87.5%) suggesting that TGF beta 1 mRNA quantification could be an indicator of disease activity in MS.