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Quantification of Autoreactive Antibodies in Mice upon Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
Published on: December 1, 2023
Autoantibody profiling in multiple sclerosis reveals novel antigenic candidates
Veerle Somers1, Cindy Govarts, Klaartje Somers
1Hasselt University, Biomedical Research Institute and Transnationale Universiteit Limburg, School of Life Sciences, Diepenbeek, Belgium. veerle.somers@uhasselt.be
Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)
|March 7, 2008
Summary
Researchers identified novel autoantibody biomarkers for multiple sclerosis (MS) using serological antigen selection from MS brain tissue. These autoantibodies show promise for diagnosing MS and identifying patient subgroups.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Biomarker Discovery
- Autoimmunity
Background:
- B cells and autoantibodies play a role in multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis.
- Autoantibodies are of interest as potential diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers for MS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify novel autoantibody (Ab) biomarkers for MS using serological antigen selection.
- To evaluate the diagnostic potential of identified antigenic targets in discriminating MS patients from controls.
Main Methods:
- Phage display library construction from MS brain plaques.
- Serological antigen selection to identify MS-specific autoantibody targets in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
- Validation of antigenic targets on large cohorts of MS patients and controls with neurological disorders.
Main Results:
- A panel of eight antigenic targets demonstrated 86% specificity and 45% sensitivity for MS discrimination.
- Four targets showed 100% specificity (23% sensitivity) for MS.
- A novel antigen, SPAG16, was identified; novel epitopes were derived from untranslated and out-of-frame sequences.
- Antibody reactivity to one target was found in 38% of serum-positive MS patients.
Conclusions:
- Autoantibody profiles against MS brain-derived epitopes can serve as diagnostic markers.
- These autoantibodies may aid in identifying specific MS patient subgroups.
- Further research into these autoantibodies could advance MS diagnostics and personalized medicine.
