Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 1, 2026
11:35
The Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test MSPT: An iPad-Based Disability Assessment Tool
Published on: June 30, 2014
58.8K
Acid sphingomyelinase: No potential as a biomarker for multiple sclerosis
C E Leurs1, M A Lopes Pinheiro2, L Wierts2
1Department of Neurology, MS Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC - location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders
|December 16, 2018
Summary
Acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) activity in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients did not predict disease activity or treatment response. However, specific ceramides and sphingomyelin levels increased during treatment, warranting further investigation as potential biomarkers.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Biochemistry
- Clinical Biomarkers
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) lacks reliable biomarkers for disease activity assessment.
- Altered sphingolipid metabolism is implicated in MS pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) activity and sphingolipid metabolism in MS patients' serum.
- To assess their potential as biomarkers for disease activity, progression, and response to disease-modifying therapy (DMT).
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal analysis of serum ASM activity in clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), primary progressive MS patients, and healthy controls.
- Measurement of ASM activity and sphingolipid levels in RRMS patients undergoing DMT.
Main Results:
- Significantly higher ASM activity levels were observed in MS patients compared to healthy controls.
- No correlation was found between ASM activity and disease activity, progression, or DMT response.
- Increased levels of specific ceramides (Cer-C16:0, Cer-C24:0) and sphingomyelins (SM-C20:0, SM-C22:0, SM-C24:0, SM-C24:1) were noted during fingolimod treatment.
Conclusions:
- Serum ASM activity is not a reliable biomarker for predicting MS disease activity, progression, or treatment response.
- Specific ceramides and sphingomyelins show potential as predictive markers for treatment response and require further investigation.
Related Concept Videos
03:02Standard Electrode Potentials
50.3K
On comparing the reactivity of silver and lead, it is observed that the two ionic species, Ag+ (aq) and Pb2+ (aq), show a difference in their redox reactivity towards copper: the silver ion undergoes spontaneous reduction, while the lead ion does not. This relative redox activity can be easily quantified in electrochemical cells by a property called cell potential. This property is commonly known as cell voltage in electrochemistry, and it is a measure of the energy which accompanies the charge...
50.3K
01:49Multiple Allele Traits
38.1K
The Concept of Multiple Allelism
38.1K
00:52Potential Energy
42.7K
The energy stored by a structure and location of matter in space is called potential energy. For instance, raising a kettlebell changes its spatial location and increases its potential energy. Similarly, a stretched rubber band contains potential energy which, under certain conditions, can be converted into other forms of energy, such as kinetic energy.
Chemical bonds that form attractive forces between atoms also contain potential energy, called chemical energy. When a chemical reaction...
Chemical bonds that form attractive forces between atoms also contain potential energy, called chemical energy. When a chemical reaction...
42.7K
02:08Titration of a Polyprotic Acid
105.2K
A polyprotic acid contains more than one ionizable hydrogen and undergoes a stepwise ionization process. If the acid dissociation constants of the ionizable protons differ sufficiently from each other, then the titration curve for such polyprotic acid generates a distinct equivalence point for each of its ionizable hydrogens. Therefore, titration of a diprotic acid results in the formation of two equivalence points, whereas the titration of a triprotic acid results in the formation of three...
105.2K
02:58Cell Potential and Free Energy
46.5K
Thermodynamics of a Redox Reaction
Thermodynamics is the branch of physics dealing with the relationship between heat and other forms of energy. In an electrochemical cell, chemical energy is converted into electrical energy.
Thus, a link can be predicted between cell potential, free energy change, and the equilibrium constant for the reaction. Cell potential can also be measured as the oxidant or the reducing strength, and similar acid-base strength measures are reflected in equilibrium...
Thermodynamics is the branch of physics dealing with the relationship between heat and other forms of energy. In an electrochemical cell, chemical energy is converted into electrical energy.
Thus, a link can be predicted between cell potential, free energy change, and the equilibrium constant for the reaction. Cell potential can also be measured as the oxidant or the reducing strength, and similar acid-base strength measures are reflected in equilibrium...
46.5K
01:25Multiple Regression
4.0K
Multiple regression assesses a linear relationship between one response or dependent variable and two or more independent variables. It has many practical applications.
Farmers can use multiple regression to determine the crop yield based on more than one factor, such as water availability, fertilizer, soil properties, etc. Here, the crop yield is the response or dependent variable as it depends on the other independent variables. The analysis requires the construction of a scatter plot...
Farmers can use multiple regression to determine the crop yield based on more than one factor, such as water availability, fertilizer, soil properties, etc. Here, the crop yield is the response or dependent variable as it depends on the other independent variables. The analysis requires the construction of a scatter plot...
4.0K