Cytokine. 2025 May 6;191:156945. doi: 10.1016/j.cyto.2025.156945. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Frailty is a common symptom in Multiple Sclerosis (MS), yet its precise mechanism remains elusive, and the clinical implications of frailty in MS are uncertain. Moreover, inflammation is closely linked to frailty. This study aims to assess serum cytokine levels in individuals with MS and explore their correlation with frailty.
METHODS: A case-control study included 83 primary MS patients and 100 healthy individuals undergoing health check-ups. Serum cytokine levels were measured, and MS severity was determined using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score. Additionally, a comprehensive frailty index (FI) was calculated based on health deficits from various domains following standardized procedures.
RESULTS: Serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels were significantly higher in the frail group than in the non-frail group, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). After adjusting for disease duration, sex, age, BMI, SBP, and DBP, serum IL-6 independently correlated with frailty in MS patients (OR = 1.46; 95 % CI = 1.02-1.93; P = 0.003). Moreover, increased serum IL-6 levels were associated positively with the frailty index (β = 0.123, P = 0.008).
CONCLUSION: Our initial findings suggest elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in MS patients with frailty, with IL-6 showing a positive correlation with frail indices. These results underscore the potential impact of inflammatory responses on frailty development in MS.
PMID:40334398 | DOI:10.1016/j.cyto.2025.156945
