Patients with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) have higher levels of protein markers of activated glial cells than those with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) or patients with other neurological disorders, according to a new study.
The findings also indicated that scoring the extent of glial involvement in relation to nerve cell damage in serum may help differentiate these two groups of MS patients.
The research, Markers of glial processes and axonal damage in CSF and serum help to differentiate between relapsing-remitting and progressive forms of MS, was presented byAndr Huss, PhD, fromUniversity Hospital Ulm, Germany, at the35thCongress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), held in Stockholm Sept. 11-13.
Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is a marker of astrocytes cells involved in the provision of nutrients to neurons, repair of nervous tissue following injury, and facilitation of neurotransmission.
Recent work found that the serum levels of this protein are associated with disease severity in primary progressive MS, while those in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF; the liquid surrounding the brain and spinal cord) are linked with disease duration in the same patient population.
Also, CSF levels of GFAP correlate with markers of nerve cell damage, such as neurofilament light chain (NfL).
In turn, another study found that GFAP levels, but not those of NfL, were higher in progressive than in relapsing MS patients.
Aiming to better determine the involvement of glial cells in the nervous system such as astrocytes and the extent of nerve cell damage in different subtypes of MS, a research team in Germany measured the levels of GFAP and CHI3L1 a protein marker of activated immune cells in comparison to NfL in patients with RRMS and progressive MS.
A total of 86 patients were included, 47 with RRMS and 39 with progressive disease, as well as 20 controls with other neurological diseases. To measure NfL and GFAP levels, the scientists used the Simoa assay (by Quanterix).
Results showed that GFAP levels were higher in the CSF and serum of progressive MS patients than in people with RRMS and controls. In turn, CSF and serum amounts of NfL were higher in both groups with MS compared with the controls, but not different when comparing relapsing with progressive disease.
As for CHI3L1, its CSF levels were higher in progressive MS patients than in the RRMS and control groups, and higher in RRMS patients than in controls. Serum CHI3L1 concentration was higher in people with progressive MS compared to the controls.
A subsequent analysis calculated the Glia-score multiplying the levels of CHI3L1 by those of GFAP, then dividing by the amount of NfL to reflect the extent of glial cell involvement in relation to nerve cell damage.
The higher the Glia score is, the more axonal damage is present in patients, Huss said.
In both CSF and serum, this score was higher in progressive MS patients compared to both RRMS patients and controls. Also, as assessed through the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), the Glia score in serum correlated with disability in the progressive MS group, but not in the RRMS group. Such a link was not found in the CSF.
Glia score and CHI3L1 show a moderate correlation with EDSS but only in serum, and only in progressive MS but not in RRMS patients, Huss said. Based on the results, the researcher suggested that GFAP and CHI3L1 are helpful markers in progressive MS patients.
Overall, Huss concluded that the data obtained indicate the involvement of glial mechanisms during the pathogenesis of progressive MS, and that the Glia score might help in differentiating progressive disease and RRMS.
The researcher and his team plan to further investigate serum biomarkers in neurological diseases, and how they correlate with levels in CSF, to better understand the underlying mechanisms for the production of GFAP and CHI3L1.
Jos is a science news writer with a PhD in Neuroscience from Universidade of Porto, in Portugal. He has studied Biochemistry also at Universidade do Porto and was a postdoctoral associate at Weill Cornell Medicine, in New York, and at The University of Western Ontario, in London, Ontario. His work ranged from the association of central cardiovascular and pain control to the neurobiological basis of hypertension, and the molecular pathways driving Alzheimers disease.
Total Posts: 1,053
Patrcia holds her PhD in Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases from the Leiden University Medical Center in Leiden, The Netherlands. She has studied Applied Biology at Universidade do Minho and was a postdoctoral research fellow at Instituto de Medicina Molecular in Lisbon, Portugal. Her work has been focused on molecular genetic traits of infectious agents such as viruses and parasites.
See the original post here:
#ECTRIMS2019 Glia Score May Differentiate Progressive MS, RRMS - Multiple Sclerosis News Today
- Hungarian Spinal Cord Injury Patient - Stem Cell Treatment Experience - May 7th, 2011 [May 7th, 2011]
- Stem cell treatment for Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)-Osama - May 8th, 2011 [May 8th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury Patient after Stem Cell Treatment - Juan Carlos Murillo - May 10th, 2011 [May 10th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury patient 10 years after injury after Stem Cell Treatment - May 10th, 2011 [May 10th, 2011]
- Rap Toward a Cure for Spinal Cord Injury - May 11th, 2011 [May 11th, 2011]
- Christopher "Kit" Bond - Spinal Cord Injury Stem Cell Patient - May 20th, 2011 [May 20th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Treatment - Spinal Cord Injury (2) - May 21st, 2011 [May 21st, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury-After Treatment, Pt was completely paralyzed (2) - May 22nd, 2011 [May 22nd, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury-After Treatment, Pt was completely paralyzed (1) - May 23rd, 2011 [May 23rd, 2011]
- Dogs recover following new treatment for spinal cord injury - June 2nd, 2011 [June 2nd, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury Rehabiliation Success Story - June 3rd, 2011 [June 3rd, 2011]
- Stem Cells for Spinal Cord Injury: Community Outreach San Diego 2011 - Trish Stressman - June 7th, 2011 [June 7th, 2011]
- Stroke Client Gains Strength and Mobility in North Palm Beach Florida - June 9th, 2011 [June 9th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury Chicago Rehabilitation Lokomat - June 10th, 2011 [June 10th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury Treatment With Stem Cells - June 11th, 2011 [June 11th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury Patient after Stem Cell Treatment - Wesley Hixen - June 12th, 2011 [June 12th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury - Injured Airline Pilot Flies Again - June 13th, 2011 [June 13th, 2011]
- David Chen: How would stem-cell therapies work in the treatment of spinal cord injuries? - June 17th, 2011 [June 17th, 2011]
- William Rader MD - Paralyzed Spinal Cord Injury Patient Walks Again - June 29th, 2011 [June 29th, 2011]
- The Spinal Cord Injury Treatment Team - July 4th, 2011 [July 4th, 2011]
- Introduction to the Bioness H200 Hand Rehabilitation System - July 14th, 2011 [July 14th, 2011]
- Organ repair using own stem cells -- brain, heart - Future Health keynote speaker - July 15th, 2011 [July 15th, 2011]
- 2011 Shriners Ride for Kids, Salt Lake City Utah. - July 17th, 2011 [July 17th, 2011]
- Degenerative Disc Disease: C5-C6 c6-C7 Treatment - July 18th, 2011 [July 18th, 2011]
- Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan's 60 Anniversary TV Commercial - July 18th, 2011 [July 18th, 2011]
- California Spinal Cord Injury Attorney: Obtaining damages for lifetime care. - July 19th, 2011 [July 19th, 2011]
- Physical and Mental Adjustments After a Spinal Cord Injury - July 19th, 2011 [July 19th, 2011]
- Comprehensive Inpatient Rehabilitation - July 28th, 2011 [July 28th, 2011]
- SCI Treatment Center at the Claremont Club - July 30th, 2011 [July 30th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Inury Patient at XCell-Center- M. Hasan - August 5th, 2011 [August 5th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Inury Patient at XCell-Center- K. Potts - August 6th, 2011 [August 6th, 2011]
- Magee Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation and Toyota 100 Cars for Good - August 13th, 2011 [August 13th, 2011]
- SCI_Celine_French_ifting_her_arms.wmv - September 1st, 2011 [September 1st, 2011]
- New Treatment May Help Paralyzed Patients Move Again By Dr.Zaghloul ahmed - September 1st, 2011 [September 1st, 2011]
- Claire Marsh - Spinal Cord Injury Part One - September 6th, 2011 [September 6th, 2011]
- Coping with spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries - September 10th, 2011 [September 10th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Treatment - Spinal Cord Injury (3) - September 15th, 2011 [September 15th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Treatment - Spinal Cord Injury (1) - September 20th, 2011 [September 20th, 2011]
- Stem cell treatment by Adiva Health Care India after Spinal Cord Injury - September 22nd, 2011 [September 22nd, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury Documentary: You Will Never Walk Again, Part 1 - September 24th, 2011 [September 24th, 2011]
- Claire Marsh Returns - Spinal Cord Injury Patient - September 25th, 2011 [September 25th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury: Raising awareness about research and treatment for spinal cord injury - September 26th, 2011 [September 26th, 2011]
- Walking after Spinal Cord injury and Stem Cells - September 27th, 2011 [September 27th, 2011]
- New Treatments for Spinal Cord Injuries - October 10th, 2011 [October 10th, 2011]
- Claire Marsh - Spinal Cord Injury Part Two - Video - October 18th, 2011 [October 18th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Treatment for Spinal Cord Injury - Video - November 2nd, 2011 [November 2nd, 2011]
- Stem Cells - Treatment for Spinal Cord Injury - Video - November 2nd, 2011 [November 2nd, 2011]
- (Film Trailer) - The Spinal Cord Journey: Stem Cell Therapy Stories of Recovery - Video - November 27th, 2011 [November 27th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Treatment for T-6 Spinal Cord Injury - Video - December 7th, 2011 [December 7th, 2011]
- What is Project Walk Atlanta - Video - December 13th, 2011 [December 13th, 2011]
- Stem Cells Treatment for Spinal Cord Injuries, Successfully Results, Stem Therapy - Video - December 28th, 2011 [December 28th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury, India Mumbai - Video - January 6th, 2012 [January 6th, 2012]
- "April Crave", "Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video - January 10th, 2012 [January 10th, 2012]
- "Lori Hammond", "Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video - January 23rd, 2012 [January 23rd, 2012]
- "Chad C.""spinal cord Injury treatment" "spinal cord injury" "spinal cord injury recovery" - Video - January 23rd, 2012 [January 23rd, 2012]
- "Hugo Rodovalho", "Client Spotlight Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video - January 27th, 2012 [January 27th, 2012]
- "Cecilia V.", "Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video - January 27th, 2012 [January 27th, 2012]
- "Roy R.", "Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video - January 27th, 2012 [January 27th, 2012]
- "Angela", "Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video - January 27th, 2012 [January 27th, 2012]
- "Joey's Story", "Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video - January 27th, 2012 [January 27th, 2012]
- "Spinal Cord Injury", "A Story Of One" - Video - January 27th, 2012 [January 27th, 2012]
- Spinal Cord Injuries - The Healing Center Project! - Video - January 28th, 2012 [January 28th, 2012]
- "Crystal H.", "Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video - February 3rd, 2012 [February 3rd, 2012]
- "Dave D.", "Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video - February 5th, 2012 [February 5th, 2012]
- "Brook", "Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video - February 5th, 2012 [February 5th, 2012]
- "Ashley Vargas", "Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video - February 6th, 2012 [February 6th, 2012]
- "Nathan Bayer", "Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video - February 8th, 2012 [February 8th, 2012]
- "Annette Ross", "Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video - February 8th, 2012 [February 8th, 2012]
- "Joe Guintu", "Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video - February 8th, 2012 [February 8th, 2012]
- "Trevor Comeau,"Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video - February 9th, 2012 [February 9th, 2012]
- "Kyle Eade, "Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video - February 11th, 2012 [February 11th, 2012]
- Velomedix Receives IDE Approval to Evaluate the Use of Rapid Therapeutic Hypothermia in the Management of AMI Patients - February 14th, 2012 [February 14th, 2012]
- Neuralstem Announces Closing of $5.2-Million Registered Direct Offering - February 14th, 2012 [February 14th, 2012]
- Chamber May Open Window for Treating Spine - February 15th, 2012 [February 15th, 2012]
- InVivo Therapeutics’ CEO Frank Reynolds Scheduled to Appear on Fox News First and San Antonio Living - February 17th, 2012 [February 17th, 2012]
- High doses of 'load' slows loss of bone in spinal cord injury - February 17th, 2012 [February 17th, 2012]
- InVivo Therapeutics Announces Pricing of Public Offering of Common Stock - February 17th, 2012 [February 17th, 2012]
- High Doses of Load Slows Bone Loss in Spinal Cord Injury - February 21st, 2012 [February 21st, 2012]
- InVivo Therapeutics Announces Full Exercise of Over-Allotment Option - February 22nd, 2012 [February 22nd, 2012]
- InVivo Therapeutics Announces Net $18.1M In Offering - February 22nd, 2012 [February 22nd, 2012]