TY - JOUR
T1 - Exploring the relationships of physical, mental, and emotional symptoms and serum biomarkers of angiogenesis in multiple sclerosis
AU - Odom, Laura B.
AU - Thomas, Gary A.
AU - Zachariah, Jikku J.
AU - Zagon, Ian S.
AU - McLaughlin, Patricia J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s), 2025.
PY - 2025/4/1
Y1 - 2025/4/1
N2 - Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) involves symptoms that may be impacted by angiogenesis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a potent pro-angiogenic molecule, is elevated in early MS, but its activity in later disease is understudied. [Met5]-enkephalin (ENK) has anti-angiogenic activity and is decreased in persons with MS (PwMS). Objectives: To determine salient symptoms of MS and evaluate relationships between common MS symptoms and angiogenesis-associated biomarkers. Methods: PwMS and non-MS control participants were identified for this cross-sectional study. Walking times and self-reported fatigue, anxiety, depression, and pain were measured. Serum VEGF and [Met5] ENK levels were measured in a subset of PwMS. Results: PwMS (n = 66) had significantly greater fatigue than controls (n = 35). In PwMS, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and pain were positively intercorrelated; fatigue was positively correlated with slower walking. Serum ENK and VEGF had a trending negative relationship. Serum ENK, but not VEGF, had a trending negative relationship with the length of disease. Serum ENK and VEGF were not correlated to walking time or self-report measures. Conclusion: Fatigue is a salient MS symptom when compared to non-MS controls. Imbalanced pro- and anti-angiogenic signaling may influence fatigue in established MS, but further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to elucidate this potential relationship.
AB - Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) involves symptoms that may be impacted by angiogenesis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a potent pro-angiogenic molecule, is elevated in early MS, but its activity in later disease is understudied. [Met5]-enkephalin (ENK) has anti-angiogenic activity and is decreased in persons with MS (PwMS). Objectives: To determine salient symptoms of MS and evaluate relationships between common MS symptoms and angiogenesis-associated biomarkers. Methods: PwMS and non-MS control participants were identified for this cross-sectional study. Walking times and self-reported fatigue, anxiety, depression, and pain were measured. Serum VEGF and [Met5] ENK levels were measured in a subset of PwMS. Results: PwMS (n = 66) had significantly greater fatigue than controls (n = 35). In PwMS, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and pain were positively intercorrelated; fatigue was positively correlated with slower walking. Serum ENK and VEGF had a trending negative relationship. Serum ENK, but not VEGF, had a trending negative relationship with the length of disease. Serum ENK and VEGF were not correlated to walking time or self-report measures. Conclusion: Fatigue is a salient MS symptom when compared to non-MS controls. Imbalanced pro- and anti-angiogenic signaling may influence fatigue in established MS, but further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to elucidate this potential relationship.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105002086570
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=105002086570&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/20552173251329904
DO - 10.1177/20552173251329904
M3 - Article
C2 - 40182207
AN - SCOPUS:105002086570
SN - 2055-2173
VL - 11
JO - Multiple Sclerosis Journal - Experimental, Translational and Clinical
JF - Multiple Sclerosis Journal - Experimental, Translational and Clinical
IS - 2
ER -