Vitamin D Levels in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: Association With Tgf-Β2, Tgf-Βri, and Tgf-Βrii Expression Publisher Pubmed



Shirvanifarsani Z¹ ; Behmanesh M¹ ; Mohammadi SM¹ ; Moghadasi AN²
Source: Life Sciences Published:2015

Abstract

Aim: A variety of evidence suggests that vitamin D can prevent the development of multiple sclerosis (MS). TGF-β pathway genes also play important roles in MS. Here, we aim to study whether vitamin D affects TGF-β pathway gene expression and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores in MS patients. Main methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted on 31 relapsing-remitting (RR) MS patients. Using realtime RT-PCR, we tested the levels of TGF-β2, TGF-βRI and TGF-βRII mRNAs in the RRMS patients before and after 8 weeks of supplementation with vitamin D. Key findings: Expression of TGF-β2 mRNA increased 2.84-fold, while TGF-βRI and TGF-βRII mRNA levels did not change after vitamin D treatment. In addition, these results revealed no correlation between the normalized expression of TGF-β2, TGF-βRI, or TGF-βRII and EDSS scores. Significance: Here, we demonstrate new evidence for the complex role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis, activity and progression of MS through the TGF-β signaling pathway. © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.