Plasma Lipopolysaccharide-Binding Protein Reflects Risk and Progression of Parkinson's Disease

Background: Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) presents bacterial endotoxin, lipopolysaccharides, to cellular surface pattern receptors for immune responses in the gut-brain axis of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Objective: We investigated whether plasma LBP levels were associated with PD severity and progression. Methods: This study included 397 participants (248 PD patients and 149 controls). We measured participants’ plasma levels of LBP and pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-6, andIL-17A. PD patients underwent motor and cognition evaluations at baseline and at a mean follow-up interval of 4.7±2.3 years. We assessed the progression of motor and cognition symptoms based on changes in the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) part III motor score and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score, respectively. Results: Plasma LBP levels were lower in PD patients than controls (9.08±2.91 vs. 10.10±3.00μg/ml, p