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Comprehensive Autopsy Program for Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis
Published on: July 19, 2019
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Microstructural and functional brain abnormalities in multiple sclerosis predicted by osteopontin and neurofilament
Gergely Orsi1, Tamas Cseh2, Zsofia Hayden3
1MTA-PTE Clinical Neuroscience MR Research Group, Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH), Pecs, Hungary; Department of Neurology, Medical School, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary.
Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders
|April 4, 2021
Summary
Osteopontin (OPN) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may predict long-term lesion development and white matter changes in multiple sclerosis (MS). Neurofilament light chain (NFL) in CSF and serum indicates axonal damage and altered brain network connectivity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Neuroimaging
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Osteopontin (OPN) is a proinflammatory biomarker.
- Neurofilament light chain (NFL) indicates axonal damage.
- Resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) assesses brain networks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term association of OPN and NFL levels with lesion evolution, white matter microstructure changes, and functional connectivity in multiple sclerosis (MS).
Main Methods:
- Measured OPN and NFL in serum and CSF of 53 MS patients.
- Correlated biomarker levels with MRI findings (lesion volume, white matter integrity, functional connectivity) over 10 years.
- Utilized Simoa, ELISA, 3D FLAIR, tract-based spatial statistics, and rs-fMRI.
Main Results:
- CSF OPN correlated with increased lesion volume and white matter microstructural abnormalities (reduced FA, increased MD, reduced RD) over 10 years.
- Both serum and CSF OPN associated with increased functional connectivity strength.
- CSF and serum NFL correlated with decreased functional connectivity strength, suggesting axonal loss.
Conclusions:
- CSF OPN, not serum OPN, may predict long-term lesion development and microstructural changes in MS, highlighting CNS inflammation's detrimental role.
- OPN and NFL in CSF are linked to functional connectivity changes, with OPN potentially indicating adaptive reorganization and NFL indicating axonal loss.
