Adipokines in multiple sclerosis patients are related to clinical and radiological measures

BACKGROUND: An imbalance of adipokines, hormones secreted by white adipose tissue, is suggested to play a role in the immunopathology of multiple sclerosis (MS). In people with MS (PwMS) of the same age, we aimed to determine whether the adipokines adiponectin, leptin, and resistin are associated with MS disease severity. Furthermore, we aimed to investigate whether these adipokines mediate the association between body mass index (BMI) and MS disease severity. METHODS: Adiponectin, resistin, and leptin were determined in serum using ELISA. 288 PwMS and 125 healthy controls (HC) were included from the Project Y cohort, a population-based cross-sectional study of people with MS born in the Netherlands in 1966, and age and sex-matched HC. Adipokine levels and BMI were related to demographic, clinical and disability measures, and MRI-based brain volumes. RESULTS: Adiponectin levels were 1.2 fold higher in PwMS vs. HC, especially in secondary progressive MS. Furthermore, we found a sex-specific increase in adiponectin levels in primary progressive (PP) male patients compared to male controls. Leptin and resistin levels did not differ between PwMS and HC, however, leptin levels were associated with higher disability (EDSS) and resistin strongly related to brain volumes in progressive patients, especially in several grey matter regions in PPMS. Importantly, correction for BMI did not significantly change the results. CONCLUSION: In PwMS of the same age, we found associations between adipokines (adiponectin, leptin, and resistin) and a range of clinical and radiological metrics. These associations were independent of BMI, indicating distinct mechanisms.