Modulation of Salivary ICAM-1 and SIRT1 by Disease Modifying Drugs in Undepressed Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Background: The pathophysiology of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is multifactorial where the correlation between inflammation and MS is evident. Adhesion molecules such as Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) are implicated in MS. SIRT1 is a member of surtins family that play a protective role in neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases. Although previously studied in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) patients, however the salivary expression of ICAM-1 and SIRT1 have not been yet studied in patients receiving fingolimod or interferon-beta. Therefore, the present research aimed to investigate the expression of salivary ICAM-1 and SIRT1 in RRMS patients treated with fingolimod or interferon-beta compared to controls.Methods: RRMS patients attending the neurology department of AL-Bashir Hospital were recruited. Patients' demographics, clinical information, and psychiatric status were evaluated (depression, anxiety and stress). Af-terward, matched controls were recruited, then unstimulated whole saliva was obtained from the participants. The salivary expression of ICAM-1 and SIRT1 was investigated using western blot and normalized with beta-actin.Results: Data were analyzed from 53 participants: 26 on fingolimod, 14 on interferon-beta, and 13 control. The interferon-beta treated patients showed a significantly (p < 0.001) higher ICAM-1 expression and lower SIRT1 expression (p < 0.05) compared to the control. Levels of ICAM-1 and SIRT1 did not vary between fingolimod and control.Conclusion: ICAM-1 and SIRT1 expression might be affected with fingolimod or INF-beta treatment which should be investigated more in the future.