Plasma levels of BDNF, ADNP, and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) were not significantly different between newly diagnosed, untreated multiple sclerosis patients and healthy controls.
No significant differencesVIP, BDNF, and ADNP levels were comparable between 31 newly diagnosed MS patients and 36 healthy controls
What the researchers found
Plasma concentrations of BDNF, ADNP, and VIP in 31 treatment-naïve, newly diagnosed MS patients did not differ significantly from those in 36 healthy controls. Additionally, no correlations were found between these neurotrophic factors and inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α), C-reactive protein levels, or disability status as measured by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS).
This null result is informative — it suggests that in the earliest stages of MS, before treatment intervention, these neuroprotective peptides have not yet been detectably altered in peripheral blood.
Why it matters
VIP is a neuroprotective peptide with known anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating properties that has been investigated as a potential MS treatment. Understanding whether its levels are altered in early, untreated MS helps determine if VIP deficiency contributes to disease onset or if changes occur later with disease progression and treatment. This null finding narrows the window for when VIP-related changes might occur in MS.
How the study worked
This was a cross-sectional study comparing 31 untreated MS patients with 36 healthy controls from a single hospital center. Plasma BDNF and ADNP were measured using ELISA, VIP was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA), and inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α) were assessed with ELISA. Statistical analyses compared protein levels between groups and examined correlations with inflammatory markers and EDSS disability scores.
What this study cannot tell us
The small sample size (31 patients, 36 controls) limits statistical power to detect subtle differences. The study was cross-sectional and from a single center, preventing assessment of how these peptide levels change over time with disease progression. Plasma measurements may not reflect levels within the central nervous system, where MS pathology occurs. The study measured only newly diagnosed patients, so changes that develop with disease duration remain unknown.
How to read the evidence
This is a small, single-center cross-sectional study with 67 total participants. While the methodology (ELISA/RIA measurements, appropriate controls) is sound, the small sample size and single-center design limit the generalizability. Null findings in small studies should be interpreted cautiously as the study may have been underpowered to detect small differences.
When this study was published
Published in 2015, this study is somewhat dated. Since then, understanding of neuroprotective peptides in MS has advanced, though VIP levels in early MS remain an area with limited data. The findings still contribute to the baseline understanding of peptide levels in untreated MS.
The bigger picture
VIP has attracted attention as a potential therapeutic peptide for autoimmune diseases including MS, based on its anti-inflammatory properties demonstrated in animal models. This study's finding that VIP levels are normal in early untreated MS suggests that any VIP-related changes may be secondary to disease progression or treatment rather than a primary feature of early disease. This has implications for whether VIP supplementation might be beneficial in early versus later-stage MS.
Questions still open
- Do VIP, BDNF, and ADNP levels change as MS progresses or in response to disease-modifying treatments?
- Would measuring these peptides in cerebrospinal fluid rather than blood reveal differences not detectable in plasma?
- Could VIP supplementation still be therapeutic in early MS even though baseline levels appear normal?
Common questions
What is vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and why is it studied in MS?
Does a null finding mean these peptides aren't important in MS?
Read the original research
Assessment of plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), activity-dependent neurotrophin protein (ADNP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) concentrations in treatment-naïve humans with multiple sclerosis.
Neuro endocrinology letters, 36(2), 148-52
Citation
Kochanowski, Jan; Uchman, Dorota; Litwiniuk, Anna; Kalisz, Malgorzata; Wolinska-Witort, Ewa; Martynska, Lidia; Baranowska, Boguslawa; Bik, Wojciech. (2015). Assessment of plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), activity-dependent neurotrophin protein (ADNP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) concentrations in treatment-naïve humans with multiple sclerosis.. Neuro endocrinology letters, 36(2), 148-52.