2023-08-09 07:13:41
New Biomarker Discovered in Multiple Sclerosis-like Disease, Researchers at the University of Basel and University Hospital Basel Reveal
Basel, Aug 9, 2023 – Researchers from the University of Basel and the University Hospital Basel have identified a new biomarker in a disease resembling multiple sclerosis (MS), potentially allowing for more accurate diagnosis and tailored therapies. The findings were published in the journal “JAMA Neurology”.
For years, it has been known that multiple sclerosis encompasses a spectrum of diseases that require individualized treatments. The immune system targets the body’s own structures, leading to inflammation in the central nervous system and the destruction of the myelin layer, a protective covering of nerve processes. However, researchers now understand that the disease is much more complex than initially thought. It can cause a range of neurological symptoms, such as numbness and limb paralysis, which can worsen progressively or intermittently. The specific parts of the nervous system affected can vary widely among patients, and their response to therapy can also differ.
“There is a huge variety of how inflammatory autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system such as multiple sclerosis manifest themselves,” explains Prof. Dr. Anne-Katrin Pröbstel from the University of Basel. Over the past decade, researchers have been uncovering key characteristics of “atypical” MS cases, giving them distinct names to differentiate them from conventional MS. These diseases share the destruction of the myelin sheath but often exhibit different patterns of inflammation, particularly in the spinal cord and optic nerve.
In a study involving approximately 1,300 patients, Pröbstel and her team have now identified a potential biomarker that could help differentiate this MS-like disease from others. The researchers discovered a specific antibody called immunoglobulin A (IgA), targeting a component of the myelin layer known as myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG). IgA antibodies are typically responsible for protecting mucous membranes.
While the exact role of MOG-IgA in the disease remains unclear, Pröbstel notes that the inflammation primarily affects the spinal cord and brainstem in this group of patients. Notably, other typical biomarkers associated with MS or related diseases were absent.
Next, the researchers aim to decode the precise role of MOG-IgA and further elucidate the clinical features it influences. “By differentiating the myelin-destroying autoimmune diseases that were previously associated with MS, we are taking an important step towards better understanding the disease’s causes and enabling personalized therapies,” says Pröbstel. Ultimately, the researchers hope to identify the most effective therapy for each specific condition.
The study was conducted in collaboration with the Universidade de São Paulo in Brazil, as well as several German universities, including Charité Berlin, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, and Ruhr University Bochum. Funding for the study was provided by the Propatient Foundation at the University Hospital Basel, the Goldschmidt-Jacobson Foundation, the Fondation Pierre Mercier pour la Science, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the Swiss National Science Foundation. Grants from the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Fellowship, the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship, and the Trygve Tellefsens Legat Scholarship were awarded to the two first authors.
Reference:
Gomes, Kulsvehagen et al. “Immunoglobulin A Antibodies Against Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein in a Subgroup of Patients With Central Nervous System Demyelination.” JAMA Neurology (2023), doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2023.2523.]
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