Abstract: Comparative proteomics and biological signaling network analysis were carried out in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with relapsingremitting MS (RRMS) to investigate the relationships among the potential biomarkers and between the biomarkers and RRMS. MethodsCSF of patients with RRMS and the controls was collected and determined by the 2-dimensional electrophoresis(2-DE). The differential expression protein spots were selected with the Image Master 2D-gel software and identified with the matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry(MALDI-TOF-MS). ELISA was performed to verified one of the protein spots, Cystatin C. Finally the correlations of these proteins were analyzed by MetaCore integrated software. ResultsThere were eight protein spots expressed differentially on the 2-DE maps, in which four upregulated and four downregulated proteins were identified in RRMS. Cystatin C was downregulated and further confirmed by the ELISA assay(4.36±1.22mg／L, 6.00±1.68mg／L, P＜0.01). A map of signaling network about these proteins was built by MetaCore integrated software. ConclusionThe differential expressions and biological signaling network researches of the proteins assist in exploring the pathogenesis, differential diagnosis and drug targets of RRMS on molecular level.

Key words: Relapsing-remitting MS, Comparative proteomics, Biological signaling network, Biomarker