Marja Niiranen1, Aleksi Kontkanen2, Olli Jääskeläinen2, Hanna-Mari Tertsunen2, Tuomas Selander3, Päivi Hartikainen4, Nadine Huber5, Eino Solje6, Annakaisa Haapasalo5, Tarja Kokkola2, Tarja Lohioja4, Sanna-Kaisa Herukka6, Sakari Simula7, Anne M Remes8. 1. Neuro Center, Neurology Outpatient Clinic, Kuopio University Hospital, P.O. BOX 100, Kuopio FI-70029, Finland. Electronic address: marja.niiranen@kuh.fi. 2. Institute of Clinical Medicine-Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland. 3. Science Service Center, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland. 4. Neuro Center, Neurology Outpatient Clinic, Kuopio University Hospital, P.O. BOX 100, Kuopio FI-70029, Finland. 5. A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland. 6. Neuro Center, Neurology Outpatient Clinic, Kuopio University Hospital, P.O. BOX 100, Kuopio FI-70029, Finland; Institute of Clinical Medicine-Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland. 7. Department of Neurology, Mikkeli Central Hospital, Mikkeli, Finland. 8. Unit of Clinical Neuroscience, Neurology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate serum glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and serum neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels as potential discriminative biomarkers between benign relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (BRRMS) and aggressive relapsing-remitting MS (ARRMS). METHODS: Serum GFAP and NfL levels were analyzed in patients with BRRMS (n = 34), ARRMS (n = 29), and healthy controls (n = 14) by using Single Molecule Array (Simoa). Patients with ARRMS had been treated with highly effective disease-modifying treatments (DMT) (fingolimod or natalizumab). RESULTS: Serum GFAP levels in both BRRMS (median 210.19 pg/ml, IQR 163.69-287.19) and in ARRMS (median 188.60 pg/ml, IQR39.23-244.93) were significantly higher (p = 0.035 and p = 0.034, respectively) compared to healthy controls (median 117.93 pg/ml, IQR 60.28-183.83). Serum GFAP levels did not differ between BRRMS and ARRMS. There were no statistical differences in NfL levels between BRRMS, ARRMS and healthy controls. GFAP level was significantly higher (p = 0.04) in BRRMS without DMT (median 216.04 pg/ml, IQR 188.60-274.79) than in those BRRMS patients who had used DMT (median 196.26 pg/ml, IQR 133.33-325.54). CONCLUSIONS: We found elevated levels of serum GFAP in both BRRMS and ARRMS compared to healthy controls, reflecting astrocytic activation. Serum NfL did not differ between BRRMS and ARRMS, probably due to the stable inflammatory phase of the disease and effective DMT use in ARRMS. Single serum NfL and GFAP measurements cannot separate a patient with BRRMS from effectively treated ARRMS after a long history of the disease, thus consecutive samples are needed in the follow-up.
OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate serum glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and serum neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels as potential discriminative biomarkers between benign relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (BRRMS) and aggressive relapsing-remitting MS (ARRMS). METHODS: Serum GFAP and NfL levels were analyzed in patients with BRRMS (n = 34), ARRMS (n = 29), and healthy controls (n = 14) by using Single Molecule Array (Simoa). Patients with ARRMS had been treated with highly effective disease-modifying treatments (DMT) (fingolimod or natalizumab). RESULTS: Serum GFAP levels in both BRRMS (median 210.19 pg/ml, IQR 163.69-287.19) and in ARRMS (median 188.60 pg/ml, IQR39.23-244.93) were significantly higher (p = 0.035 and p = 0.034, respectively) compared to healthy controls (median 117.93 pg/ml, IQR 60.28-183.83). Serum GFAP levels did not differ between BRRMS and ARRMS. There were no statistical differences in NfL levels between BRRMS, ARRMS and healthy controls. GFAP level was significantly higher (p = 0.04) in BRRMS without DMT (median 216.04 pg/ml, IQR 188.60-274.79) than in those BRRMS patients who had used DMT (median 196.26 pg/ml, IQR 133.33-325.54). CONCLUSIONS: We found elevated levels of serum GFAP in both BRRMS and ARRMS compared to healthy controls, reflecting astrocytic activation. Serum NfL did not differ between BRRMS and ARRMS, probably due to the stable inflammatory phase of the disease and effective DMT use in ARRMS. Single serum NfL and GFAP measurements cannot separate a patient with BRRMS from effectively treated ARRMS after a long history of the disease, thus consecutive samples are needed in the follow-up.
Authors: Carlos Camara-Lemarroy; Luanne Metz; Jens Kuhle; David Leppert; Eline Willemse; David Kb Li; Anthony Traboulsee; Jamie Greenfield; Graziela Cerchiaro; Claudia Silva; V Wee Yong Journal: Mult Scler Date: 2022-07-18 Impact factor: 5.855
Authors: Tamás Biernacki; Zsófia Kokas; Dániel Sandi; Judit Füvesi; Zsanett Fricska-Nagy; Péter Faragó; Tamás Zsigmond Kincses; Péter Klivényi; Krisztina Bencsik; László Vécsei Journal: Int J Mol Sci Date: 2022-03-21 Impact factor: 5.923