Cerebrospinal Fluid and Blood Biomarkers of Neuroaxonal Damage in Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Following emerging evidence that neurodegenerative processes in multiple sclerosis (MS) are present from its early stages, an intensive scientific interest has been directed to biomarkers of neuro-axonal damage in body fluids of MS patients. Recent research has introduced new candidate biomarkers but also elucidated pathogenetic and clinical relevance of the well-known ones. This paper reviews the existing data on blood and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers of neuroaxonal damage in MS and highlights their relation to clinical parameters, as well as their potential predictive value to estimate future disease course, disability, and treatment response. Strategies for future research in this field are suggested.

The prognostic value of CSF neurofilaments in multiple sclerosis at 15-year follow-up

“…[3][4][5] Recent translational data strongly support the association between high body fluid NfH levels, loss of axons in the optic nerve, loss of retinal ganglion cells in the retina and impaired visual functioning. Clinical subtypes (relapsing-remitting, secondary progressive, primary progressive (RR, SP/PP)) were dichotomised according to the CSF NfH SMI35 baseline levels (high, normal).…”

Patients with Alzheimer disease have elevated intrathecal synthesis of antibodies against tau protein and heavy neurofilament

“…Serum antibodies (Abs) against neuron-specific antigens are not only present in patients with autoimmune diseases, but also in healthy individuals (Soussan et al, 1994;Rosenmann et al, 2006b;Bartos et al, 2007aBartos et al, , 2007bNeff et al, 2008;Levin et al, 2010;Dujmovic, 2011;Fialova et al, 2011). These typical neuronal proteins can be cytoskeletal components which include tau proteins, neurofilaments [NFs, triplet protein of light (NFL), medium (NFM) and heavy (NFH) subunits] and tubulins (Soussan et al, 1994;Brandt, 2001;Cairns et al, 2004;Tumani et al, 2008;Kolarova et al, 2012).…”

Neurofilaments and tau proteins in cerebrospinal fluid and serum in dementias and neuroinflammation

“…Alterations in neurofilaments have been observed in multiple neurological diseases including AD (ref. 5,[38][39][40][41][42][43] ). Specific subclasses of neurons varying in the NF content in different regions of the central nervous system have been described 44 .…”