ASSESSMENT OF CHLORIDE INTRACELLULAR CHANNEL PROTEIN-1 (CLIC1) ANTIBODY AS A BIOMARKER IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS): A-PILOT CASE-CONTROL STUDY FROM EGYPT

Background: Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system. This study aimed to assess the association between the serum level of chloride intracellular channel 1 (CLIC1) antibody and the potential role of it in the diagnosis of MS. Methods: We con-ducted a pilot case-control study involving 90 participants divided into three groups: relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) (n=49), secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (n=11), and healthy controls (n=30). Detailed disease characteristics using Expanded Disability Status Score (EDSS) and imaging biomarkers were assessed. Serum levels of chloride intracellular channel protein-1 (CLIC1) antibody were measured. Results: The study showed statistically significant difference of Anti-CLIC1 levels when compared between the three groups including RRMS, SPMS and control groups. In the RRMS group, the mean Anti-CLIC1 level was 542.2. In the SPMS group, the mean Anti-CLIC1 level was 409.9. In contrast, the control group had a higher mean Anti- CLIC1 level of 585.0. The data examines the correlation between Anti-CLIC1 levels and three variables: age, duration of illness, and EDSS scores showing weak negative correlation between the three variables and the Anti- CLIC1 level with no statistically significant difference. ROC analysis showed that Anti-CLIC1 can significantly predict MS with AUC of 0.701, p-value < 0.001 with sensitivity of 56.7% and specificity of 86.7% Conclusions: Considering the reduced levels of CLIC1-antibody in MS patients compared to the control group, it is tempting to hypothesize An-ti-CLIC1 is a fair diagnostic biomarker for diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.