The evaluation of gene expression and enzyme activity of SIRT1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Little in known regarding the clinical relevance of SIRT1 in multiple sclerosis (MS). Here, we aimed to evaluate mRNA expression, protein level and enzyme activity of SIRT1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from relapsing –remitting MS patients (RRMS) and healthy controls.
Twenty patients with RR-MS and twenty two age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were enrolled in this case-control study. Following PBMCs isolation, mRNA expression was evaluated by real time-PCR. SIRT1 activity and SIRT1 protein level were measured using a fluorometric assay and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) respectively, in PBMC lysates.
There was no statistically significant difference in the mRNA expression of SIRT1 (p=0.56) and its protein levels (p=0.15) between MS patients and healthy subjects. By contrast, SIRT1 enzyme activity were significantly (p=0.008) lower in RRMS patients compared with that in healthy subjects.
Our findings demonstrated that enzyme activity of SIRT1 is significantly lower in PBMCs of RRMS patients in comparison with healthy subjects. However, more investigations are essential to clarify the role of SIRT1 in MS pathogenesis.