Oxidative stress markers; investigation of the contribution of heat shock protein-70 (HSP-70), vascular endothelial growth factor-a (VEGF-A), hypoxia-induced factor-1alpha (HIF-1α) and matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) serum levels in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients during relapse and remission periods

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is the most common cause of neurological disability in young adults worldwide. Immune response-induced central nervous system inflammation is the main factor in the pathogenesis of MS. In recent years, tissue damage caused by oxidative stress and inflammation is also thought to contribute to disease development. In this study, we aimed to investigate the contribution of oxidative stress to disease development in patients with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) in Gaziantep University Faculty of Medicine Neurology outpatient clinic. The study was conducted prospectively. The study included 142 patients diagnosed with RRMS according to the 2017 revised McDonald criteria and 39 healthy volunteers. 71 patients were enrolled during the attack period, and blood samples were collected from these patients before and after methylprednisolone treatment. Seventy-one patients who did not have an attack in the last 1 year were included in the remission group and healthy volunteers were included in the control group. Oxidative stress markers HIF-1α, HSP-70, MMP-7 and VEGF-A molecules were selected for the study. The study was accepted by Gaziantep University Scientific Research Projects Unit with project number TF.UT.22.58 and elisa kits were obtained with the support of the unit. Age, gender, disability status, time since the diagnosis of the disease and the use of disease-modifying agents were recorded for all patients included in the study. SPSS 22.0 Windows version package program was used to analyze the data obtained. P<0.05 was considered significant. In conclusion, the use of HIF-1α, HSP-70, MMP-7 and VEGF-A molecules as oxidative stress markers in MS patients did not show statistically significant results, and the blood levels of these molecules did not have a statistically significant correlation with age, gender, disease duration and EDSS. Keywords: Multiple Sclerosis, Oxidative Stress, Heat Shock Protein-70 (Hsp-70), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-a (Vegf-a), Hypoxia-İnduced Factor-1alpha (Hif-1α)