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Multiple sclerosis therapy and Epstein-Barr virus antibody titres
Joel Raffel1, Ruth Dobson1, Arie Gafson1
1Queen Mary University of London, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, UK.
Background:
Anti-Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) nuclear antigen-1 (anti-EBNA-1) IgG antibody titres have been found to correlate with MRI and clinical measures of disease activity in MS. Despite being a putative biomarker of disease activity, the effect of disease modifying drugs on anti-EBNA-1 IgG titre has not yet been determined.
Methods:
In this study, we investigated the effect of interferon-beta and natalizumab therapy on prospective sera anti-EBNA-1 IgG titres, using a quantitative ELISA, in patients with relapsing-remitting MS.
Results:
For both the interferon-beta and natalizumab group, there was no significant difference between pre-therapy and post-therapy anti-EBNA-1 IgG titre. There was also no significant difference between the groups with regard to mean percentage change in anti-EBNA-1 IgG titre over 12 months of treatment.
Conclusions:
This study suggests that anti-EBNA-1 IgG titre is unlikely to be a good surrogate marker for disease activity in patients on disease modifying drugs.
Insights
Anti-Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) nuclear antigen-1 (anti-EBNA-1) IgG antibody titres do not change significantly with interferon-beta or natalizumab treatment in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Therefore, anti-EBNA-1 IgG titre is not a reliable biomarker for disease activity in MS patients undergoing disease-modifying therapy.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Neurology
- Virology
Background:
- Anti-Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) nuclear antigen-1 (anti-EBNA-1) IgG antibody titres correlate with multiple sclerosis (MS) disease activity.
- The impact of disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) on anti-EBNA-1 IgG titres remains undetermined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of interferon-beta and natalizumab on anti-EBNA-1 IgG titres in relapsing-remitting MS patients.
- To assess the utility of anti-EBNA-1 IgG as a biomarker for disease activity during DMD treatment.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative ELISA was used to measure anti-EBNA-1 IgG titres.
- Prospective sera from MS patients treated with interferon-beta or natalizumab were analyzed.
- Titres were compared before and after therapy, and changes over 12 months were assessed.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in anti-EBNA-1 IgG titres was observed before and after treatment with either interferon-beta or natalizumab.
- There were no significant differences in the mean percentage change of anti-EBNA-1 IgG titres between the treatment groups over 12 months.
Conclusions:
- Anti-EBNA-1 IgG titre is unlikely to serve as a reliable surrogate marker for disease activity in MS patients receiving DMDs.
- Further research may be needed to identify accurate biomarkers for MS disease activity in patients on DMDs.
