Cerebrospinal fluid markers reveal intrathecal inflammation in progressive multiple sclerosis

[Kati]

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/...ionid=005EB7D5543EE599B902D3C9FFB1FD6C.f01t02

Abstract

Objective
The management of complex patients with neuroimmunological diseases is hindered by an inability to reliably measure intrathecal inflammation. Currently implemented laboratory tests developed >40 years ago either are not dynamic or fail to capture low levels of central nervous system (CNS) inflammation. Therefore, we aimed to identify and validate biomarkers of CNS inflammation in 2 blinded, prospectively acquired cohorts of untreated patients with neuroimmunological diseases and embedded controls, with the ultimate goal of developing clinically useful tools.

Methods
Because biomarkers with maximum utility reflect immune phenotypes, we included an assessment of cell specificity in purified primary immune cells. Biomarkers were quantified by optimized electrochemiluminescent immunoassays.

Results
Among markers with cell-specific secretion, soluble CD27 is a validated biomarker of intrathecal T-cell activation, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.97. Comparing the quantities of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) immune cells and their respective cell-specific soluble biomarkers (released by CSF cells as well as their counterparts in CNS tissue) provided invaluable information about stationary CNS immune responses, previously attainable via brain biopsy only. Unexpectedly, progressive and relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) patients have comparable numbers of activated intrathecal T and B cells, which are preferentially embedded in CNS tissue in the former group.

Interpretation
The cell-specific biomarkers of intrathecal inflammation may improve diagnosis and management of neuroimmunological diseases and provide pharmacodynamic markers for future therapeutic developments in patients with intrathecal inflammation that is not captured by imaging, such as in progressive MS. Ann Neurol 2015

 

[Kati]

And accompanying news article:
New method to secreen brain inflammation identified

"In a new study, National Institutes of Health (NIH) researchers suggest a less invasive method to identify brain inflammation in people with neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis. While the standard procedure can require taking a tissue biopsy or sample, the team used spinal fluid to identify markers that can reliably detect inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. The study appears in the April 16, 2015, online edition of the Annals of Neurology..."

 

[5150]

There are those among us who have already developed MS symptoms, as well as those who will be destined to develop it w/o needed treatment. This is all very logical. We get sicker and sicker, without too much research or treatment done by qualified doctors. Perfect for them: leave us alone until we are too sick to work toward our common goals, then say everyone has a degree of MS-- whatever the progress rates(or lack thereof) may show at that time.

We will all be MS'ers at this current pace. imo

 

[5150]

ps don't mean to be negative, but I am into reality.
And, MS is a long tough expensive road.
I am thinking in that direction after 3 decades of , in the end, Nothing.

 

[Kati]

ps don't mean to be negative, but I am into reality.
And, MS is a long tough expensive road.
I am thinking in that direction after 3 decades of , in the end, Nothing.

i am into reading about neuro-inflammation and diseases similar to ME/SEID, and sharing to our researchers, so we can find the cause of our illness, and potential treatments.

Just yesterday some research about 'chemo brain' made it to the media. and I thought, hey, how about comparing neuro-psych exams of patients with cancer complaining of 'chemo brain' to patients with ME or FM?