Table 4.
Neurodegeneration and iron density in deep grey matter (DGM) lesions in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and controls
| DGM controls | MS NADGM | MS inactive DGM lesions | MS active DGM lesions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APP-reactive neuronal cell bodies/mm2 | Median | 0 | 0.3 | 0 | 1.3 |
| Min.−Max. | 0–2.6 | 0–3.5 | 0–2.7 | 0–2.9 | |
| APP-reactive axonal spheroids/mm2 | Median | 0 | 3* | 5.0* | 79.8*† |
| Min.−Max. | 0–1.2 | 0–55.6 | 0–30.7 | 17.4–150.5 | |
| E06-reactive neurons in % | Median | 13.48 | 69.10* | 84.49* | 84–84* |
| Min.−Max. | 0.7–74.56 | 19.75–99.0 | 19.77–99.95 | 41.07–98.38 | |
| E06-reactive axonal spheroids/mm2 | Median | 0.3 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 2 |
| Min.−Max. | 0–362.8 | 0–224 | 0–34.7 | 0–20.3 | |
| E06-reactive thin cellular processes/mm2 | Median | 1.2 | 5.4 | 8.7 | 8.8 |
| Min.−Max. | 0–50.9 | 0–150.5 | 0–211.2 | 0–17.4 | |
| E06-reactive oligodendrocytes/mm2 | Median | 1.7 | 15.2* | 12.6 * | 19.8 |
| Min.−Max. | 0–34.7 | 0–72 | 3.5–89.7 | 11.6–56.4 | |
| E06-reactive lipofuscin/mm2 | Median | 19.4 | 29.2 | 16.6 | 21.3 |
| Min.−Max. | 0–39.9 | 1.7–88.5 | 6.1–94.6 | 13.4–38.2 | |
| E06-positive area in % | Median | 0.3 | 3.5* | 4.6* | 3.7 |
| Min.−Max. | 0–3.3 | 0.1–29.7 | 0.1–18.4 | 0.1–9.5 | |
| Oxidised DNA-reactive nuclei/mm2 | Median | 1.7 | 3.5 | 2.7 | 4.4 |
| Min.−Max. | 0–18.5 | 0–19.7 | 0–30.1 | 1.2–18.8 | |
| Iron density | Median | 612.3 | 654.5 | 469.4† | 546.7 |
| Min.−Max. | 391.5–830.3 | 391.6–1031.2 | 312–816.6 | 444.4–710.2 |
This table depicts an overview of the extent of axonal injury/neurodegeneration in the DGM of patients with MS that was separated according to active lesions, inactive lesions, normal-appearing deep grey matter (NADGM) and control DGM.
In the NADGM, APP-positive axonal spheroids (p=0.001), E06-reactive neurons (p=0.001) and E06-reactive oligodendrocytes (p=0.014) were significantly increased compared with controls. The NADGM also displayed a higher percentage of E06-reactive areas (p=0.002). In the active and inactive lesions of the DGM, the levels of APP-positive axonal spheroids (p=0.003 and p<0.001, respectively) and E06-reactive neurons (p=0.024 and p<0.001, respectively) were also higher than in controls. E06-reactive oligodendrocytes (p=0.008) and the percentage of E06-reactive area (p=0.019) reached statistical significance only in the inactive lesions and not in the active lesions. Iron density decreased in inactive lesions compared with the surrounding NADGM tissue (p=0.019).
*The values represent median values and range. Significant p values after correction for multiple testing in comparison with controls.
†Significant p values after correction for multiple testing in comparison with NADGM.
APP, amyloid precursor protein.