Soluble CD40 ligand contributes to blood-brain barrier breakdown and central nervous system inflammation in multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder

•sCD40L was increased in serum and CSF in MS compared with disease controls (DCs).•CSF sCD40L was significantly higher in NMOSD than in DCs.•Serum sCD40L was positively correlated with Qalb and serum IL-6 in MS.•CSF sCD40Lwas positively correlated with Qalb and CSF IL-6 in NMOSD.•sCD40L may be associated with BBB disruption through serum in MS and CSF in NMOSD.

Soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) is reported to disrupt the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum sCD40L levels were measured in 29 multiple sclerosis (MS), 29 neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and 27 disease control (DC) patients. In MS, serum sCD40L levels were higher than in DCs and positively correlated with the CSF/serum albumin ratio (Qalb). In NMOSD, CSF sCD40L levels were significantly increased compared to DCs, and were correlated to Qalb, CSF cell counts, protein concentrations, and interleukin-6 levels. sCD40L could be involved in BBB disruption in MS, whereas it may contribute to CNS inflammation in NMOSD.

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