Do sera from remitting and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis patients disrupt the blood-brain barrier?
The up-regulation of autocrine MMP-2/9 by BMECs after exposure to sera from RRMS-R patients or the autoantibodies against BMECs from SPMS patients can compromise the BBB. Both RRMS-S and SPMS sera increased the VCAM-1 expression in the BBB, thus indicating that targeting the VCAM-1 in the BBB could represent a possible therapeutic strategy for even the stable phase of MS and SPMS.
Sixty-four-slice CTA with the NCP can significantly reduce the radiation dose and improve the arterial enhancement and calf arteries imaging.