RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) affect the efficacy of interferon-beta (IFNß) treatment in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, particularly if NAbs persist. Persistency depends on NAb titers, which differ between IFNß preparations. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated IFNß preparation-specific NAb cut-off titers during early treatment for prediction of NAb persistency. METHODS: Patients who had at least one NAb test between 12 and 30 months (baseline) as well as after more than 48 months (follow-up) on IFNß treatment were included in this longitudinal study. RESULTS: At baseline 1064 patients had a NAb test. Of those, 203 had a follow-up test. In the follow-up group 23.2% of patients were NAb positive during baseline. NAb frequency significantly decreased by 40.7% in the IFNß-1a and by 60% in the IFNß-1b group at follow-up after a mean time of 75.4 months on treatment, and median NAb titers decreased significantly in both groups. During baseline, NAb titers of >258 neutralizing units (NU) had a sensitivity of 81.3% and a specificity of 90.9% in the IFNß-1a group, whereas titers of >460 NU had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 91.7% in the IFNß-1b group to predict persistency at follow-up. When these cut-off titers are applied, 10.2% of all treated patients developed persistent NAbs. CONCLUSION: IFNß preparation-specific NAb cut-off titers for prediction of NAb persistency, which may be useful in individual treatment decision making, are provided.
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Anticuerpos Neutralizantes/sangre , Factores Inmunológicos/uso terapéutico , Interferón beta/uso terapéutico , Esclerosis Múltiple/tratamiento farmacológico , Austria , Distribución de Chi-Cuadrado , Estudios Transversales , Ensayo de Inmunoadsorción Enzimática , Humanos , Factores Inmunológicos/inmunología , Interferón beta/inmunología , Estudios Longitudinales , Esclerosis Múltiple/sangre , Esclerosis Múltiple/inmunología , Valor Predictivo de las Pruebas , Reacción en Cadena en Tiempo Real de la Polimerasa , Estudios Retrospectivos , Sensibilidad y Especificidad , Factores de Tiempo , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Serum autoantibodies against the water channel aquaporin-4 (AQP4) are important diagnostic biomarkers and pathogenic factors for neuromyelitis optica (NMO). However, AQP4-IgG are absent in 5-40% of all NMO patients and the target of the autoimmune response in these patients is unknown. Since recent studies indicate that autoimmune responses to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) can induce an NMO-like disease in experimental animal models, we speculate that MOG might be an autoantigen in AQP4-IgG seronegative NMO. Although high-titer autoantibodies to human native MOG were mainly detected in a subgroup of pediatric acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) and multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, their role in NMO and High-risk NMO (HR-NMO; recurrent optic neuritis-rON or longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis-LETM) remains unresolved. RESULTS: We analyzed patients with definite NMO (n = 45), HR-NMO (n = 53), ADEM (n = 33), clinically isolated syndromes presenting with myelitis or optic neuritis (CIS, n = 32), MS (n = 71) and controls (n = 101; 24 other neurological diseases-OND, 27 systemic lupus erythematosus-SLE and 50 healthy subjects) for serum IgG to MOG and AQP4. Furthermore, we investigated whether these antibodies can mediate complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC). AQP4-IgG was found in patients with NMO (n = 43, 96%), HR-NMO (n = 32, 60%) and in one CIS patient (3%), but was absent in ADEM, MS and controls. High-titer MOG-IgG was found in patients with ADEM (n = 14, 42%), NMO (n = 3, 7%), HR-NMO (n = 7, 13%, 5 rON and 2 LETM), CIS (n = 2, 6%), MS (n = 2, 3%) and controls (n = 3, 3%, two SLE and one OND). Two of the three MOG-IgG positive NMO patients and all seven MOG-IgG positive HR-NMO patients were negative for AQP4-IgG. Thus, MOG-IgG were found in both AQP4-IgG seronegative NMO patients and seven of 21 (33%) AQP4-IgG negative HR-NMO patients. Antibodies to MOG and AQP4 were predominantly of the IgG1 subtype, and were able to mediate CDC at high-titer levels. CONCLUSIONS: We could show for the first time that a subset of AQP4-IgG seronegative patients with NMO and HR-NMO exhibit a MOG-IgG mediated immune response, whereas MOG is not a target antigen in cases with an AQP4-directed humoral immune response.
Asunto(s)
Autoanticuerpos/inmunología , Activación de Complemento/inmunología , Proteínas de la Mielina/inmunología , Mielitis Transversa/inmunología , Neuromielitis Óptica/inmunología , Adolescente , Adulto , Acuaporina 4/inmunología , Autoanticuerpos/sangre , Autoantígenos/inmunología , Preescolar , Femenino , Humanos , Inmunoglobulina G/sangre , Inmunoglobulina G/inmunología , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Glicoproteína Mielina-Oligodendrócito , Mielitis Transversa/sangre , Neuromielitis Óptica/sangreRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Neuroinflammation and demyelination have been suggested as mechanisms causing HIV-1 associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND). This cross-sectional cohort study explores the potential role of antibodies to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), a putative autoantigen in multiple sclerosis, in the pathogenesis of HAND. METHODS: IgG antibodies against MOG were measured by ELISA in sera and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 65 HIV-positive patients with HAND (n = 14), cerebral opportunistic infections (HIVOI, n = 25), primary HIV infection (HIVM, n = 5) and asymptomatic patients (HIVasy, n = 21). As control group HIV-negative patients with bacterial or viral CNS infections (OIND, n = 18) and other neurological diseases (OND, n = 22) were included. In a subset of HAND patients MOG antibodies were determined before and during antiviral therapy. RESULTS: In serum, significantly higher MOG antibody titers were observed in HAND compared to OND patients. In CSF, significantly higher antibody titers were observed in HAND and HIVOI patients compared to HIVasy and OND patients and in OIND compared to OND patients. CSF anti-MOG antibodies showed a high sensitivity and specificity (85.7% and 76.2%) for discriminating patients with active HAND from asymptomatic HIV patients. MOG immunopositive HAND patients performed significantly worse on the HIV dementia scale and showed higher viral load in CSF. In longitudinally studied HAND patients, sustained antibody response was noted despite successful clearance of viral RNA. CONCLUSIONS: Persistence of MOG antibodies despite viral clearance in a high percentage of HAND patients suggests ongoing neuroinflammation, possibly preventing recovery from HAND.
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Complejo SIDA Demencia/metabolismo , Autoanticuerpos/sangre , Autoanticuerpos/líquido cefalorraquídeo , Glicoproteína Asociada a Mielina/inmunología , Complejo SIDA Demencia/tratamiento farmacológico , Complejo SIDA Demencia/patología , Complejo SIDA Demencia/fisiopatología , Adulto , Fármacos Anti-VIH/uso terapéutico , Autoanticuerpos/inmunología , Encéfalo/inmunología , Encéfalo/patología , Encéfalo/fisiopatología , Estudios de Cohortes , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , VIH-1/inmunología , Humanos , Inflamación/inmunología , Persona de Mediana Edad , Proteínas de la Mielina , Glicoproteína Mielina-Oligodendrócito , ARN Viral/sangre , Sensibilidad y Especificidad , Carga ViralRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: There is evidence that B cells play an important role in disease pathology of multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of this prospective observational study was to determine the predictive value of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) B cell subtypes in disease evolution of patients with MS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 128 patients were included between 2004 and 2012. Median follow up time was 7.9 years (range 3.3-10.8 years). 10 patients were lost to follow-up. 32 clinically isolated syndrome- (CIS), 25 relapsing remitting MS- (RRMS), 2 secondary progressive MS- (SPMS) and 9 primary progressive MS- (PPMS) patients were included. The control group consisted of 40 patients with other neurological diseases (OND). CSF samples were analyzed for routine diagnostic parameters. B cell phenotypes were characterized by flow cytometry using CD19 and CD138 specific antibodies. Standardized baseline brain MRI was conducted at the time of diagnostic lumbar puncture. Main outcome variables were likelihood of progressive disease course, EDSS progression, conversion to clinical definite MS (CDMS) and relapse rate. RESULTS: CSF mature B cells (CD19+CD138-) were increased in bout-onset MS compared to PPMS (p<0.05) and OND (p<0.001), whereas plasma blasts (CD19+CD138+) were increased in bout-onset MS (p<0.001) and PPMS (p<0.05) compared to OND. CSF B cells did not predict a progressive disease course, EDSS progression, an increased relapse rate or the conversion to CDMS. Likelihood of progressive disease course (p<0.05) and EDSS (p<0.01) was predicted by higher age at baseline, whereas conversion to CDMS was predicted by a lower age at onset (p<0.01) and the presence of ≥9 MRI T2 lesions (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: We detected significant differences in the CSF B cell subsets between different clinical MS subtypes and OND patients. CSF B cells were neither predictive for disease and EDSS progression nor conversion to CDMS after a CIS.
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Linfocitos B/inmunología , Líquido Cefalorraquídeo/citología , Esclerosis Múltiple/líquido cefalorraquídeo , Esclerosis Múltiple/patología , Adulto , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Células Cultivadas , Progresión de la Enfermedad , Femenino , Humanos , Estudios Longitudinales , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Esclerosis Múltiple/inmunología , Estudios Prospectivos , Índice de Severidad de la Enfermedad , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Only few reports are available on the epitope specificity of anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibodies in multiple sclerosis (MS). In the present study we provide a precise characterization of the epitope specificity of serum antibodies directed against the extracellular domain of MOG, including IgG, IgM and IgA immunoglobulin isotypes in 28 relapsing remitting MS patients and report that linear epitopes amino-acid (aa) 37-48 and aa42-53 are immunodominant. Recently experienced relapses intensified the anti-MOG peptide antibody response. Immunomodulatory treatment with interferon-beta or glatiramer-acetate had no major impact on the anti-MOG peptide immunoreactivity after 1 year of therapy.
Asunto(s)
Anticuerpos/sangre , Especificidad de Anticuerpos/fisiología , Epítopos/sangre , Factores Inmunológicos/uso terapéutico , Esclerosis Múltiple/terapia , Glicoproteína Asociada a Mielina/inmunología , Adulto , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Femenino , Humanos , Inmunoensayo/métodos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Esclerosis Múltiple/prevención & control , Proteínas de la Mielina , Glicoproteína Mielina-Oligodendrócito , Curva ROC , Prevención Secundaria , Sensibilidad y Especificidad , Factores de TiempoRESUMEN
The aim of this study was to evaluate a possible role of soluble CD14 (sCD14) in multiple sclerosis (MS). We found that sCD14 serum levels measured by ELISA were higher in MS patients compared to neurological and healthy controls. Within the MS group sCD14 levels were increased in relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive MS compared to primary progressive MS. Furthermore, sCD14 concentrations were increased during stable disease. An increased expression of sCD14 was also detected after treatment with interferon-beta. In summary, we report evidence that serum sCD14 levels are increased in MS and correlate inversely with disease activity in relapsing MS patients.
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Receptores de Lipopolisacáridos/sangre , Esclerosis Múltiple Crónica Progresiva/sangre , Esclerosis Múltiple Crónica Progresiva/inmunología , Esclerosis Múltiple Recurrente-Remitente/sangre , Esclerosis Múltiple Recurrente-Remitente/inmunología , Adulto , Ensayo de Inmunoadsorción Enzimática , Femenino , Humanos , Factores Inmunológicos/uso terapéutico , Interferón beta/uso terapéutico , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Esclerosis Múltiple Crónica Progresiva/tratamiento farmacológico , Esclerosis Múltiple Recurrente-Remitente/tratamiento farmacológico , Índice de Severidad de la Enfermedad , SolubilidadRESUMEN
Adhesion molecule mediated leukocyte migration into the central nervous system is considered to be a critical step in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). We measured plasma levels of the soluble adhesion molecules sPECAM-1, sP-selectin and sE-selectin in 166 MS patients and in 36 healthy blood donors with ELISA. sPECAM-1, sP-selectin and sE-selectin plasma concentrations showed a significant increase in the relapsing-remitting disease course of MS and were elevated during relapse. These findings indicate that sPECAM-1, sP-selectin and sE-selectin might be implemented as paraclinical markers of disease activity in MS with restriction to the clinical course of the disease.
Asunto(s)
Moléculas de Adhesión Celular/sangre , Selectina E/sangre , Esclerosis Múltiple/sangre , Selectina-P/sangre , Adulto , Progresión de la Enfermedad , Ensayo de Inmunoadsorción Enzimática/métodos , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Esclerosis Múltiple/clasificación , Esclerosis Múltiple/patologíaRESUMEN
Data from in vitro and animal studies support a neuroprotective role of glatiramer acetate (GA) in multiple sclerosis (MS). We investigated prospectively whether treatment with GA leads to clinical and paraclinical changes associated with neuroprotection in patients with relapsing-remitting (RR) MS. Primary aim of this clinical study was to determine serum BDNF levels in RR-MS patients who were started on GA as compared to patients who remained therapy-naive throughout 24 months. Secondary outcomes included relapses and EDSS, cognition, quality of life, fatigue and depression, BDNF expression levels on peripheral immune cells (FACS, RT-PCR), serum anti-myelin basic peptide (MBP) antibody status, evoked potential and cerebral MRI studies. While GA treatment did not alter serum levels or expression levels on peripheral immune cells of BDNF over time it resulted in a transient increase of serum IgG antibody response to MBP, mainly due to subtype IgG1 (p<0.05), after 3 months. However, no significant differences were found between GA treated and therapy-naive patients with regard to serum BDNF and intracellular BDNF expression levels, nerve conduction (including median and tibial nerve somatosensory, pattern-shift visual and upper and lower limb motor evoked potentials) or MRI (including volume of hyperintense lesions, volume of hypointense lesions after CE, mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy) outcome parameters. In conclusion, our findings do not support a major impact of GA treatment on paraclinical markers of neuroprotection in human RR-MS.
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Adyuvantes Inmunológicos/uso terapéutico , Acetato de Glatiramer/uso terapéutico , Esclerosis Múltiple/tratamiento farmacológico , Resultado del Tratamiento , Anticuerpos/metabolismo , Factor Neurotrófico Derivado del Encéfalo/sangre , Factor Neurotrófico Derivado del Encéfalo/genética , Corteza Cerebral/patología , Evaluación de la Discapacidad , Electroencefalografía , Potenciales Evocados/efectos de los fármacos , Femenino , Humanos , Estudios Longitudinales , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética , Masculino , Esclerosis Múltiple/sangre , Proteína Básica de Mielina/inmunología , Pruebas Neuropsicológicas , ARN Mensajero/metabolismo , Factores de TiempoRESUMEN
The aim of this observational study was to analyze clinical and immunological effects of rituximab treatment in neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) patients. We report on four NMO and two recurrent LETM patients who were treated with rituximab. Overall, B-cell depletion resulted in profound clinical stabilization in all patients. Rituximab did not affect titers of antibodies to aquaporin-4 (AQP4-IgG) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, immunoglobulin (Ig) isotypes and IgG subtype distribution, even after long-term B-cell depletion. Relapses were not associated with re-emerging B-cells, serum levels of B-cell activating factor (BAFF) or AQP4-IgG titers. BAFF serum levels increased following rituximab treatment.
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Linfocitos B/fisiología , Depleción Linfocítica/métodos , Mielitis Transversa/inmunología , Mielitis Transversa/terapia , Neuromielitis Óptica/inmunología , Neuromielitis Óptica/terapia , Adulto , Anticuerpos Monoclonales de Origen Murino/uso terapéutico , Antígenos CD/metabolismo , Acuaporina 4/inmunología , Factor Activador de Células B/sangre , Femenino , Humanos , Inmunoglobulina G/metabolismo , Factores Inmunológicos/metabolismo , Estudios Longitudinales , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Mielitis Transversa/sangre , Neuromielitis Óptica/sangre , Observación , Rituximab , Factores de Tiempo , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: In 2008 the Austrian Task Force for Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) started a nation-wide network for information exchange and multi-centre collaboration. Their aim was to detect all patients with NMO or NMO spectrum disorders (NMO-SD) in Austria and to analyse their disease courses and response to treatment. METHODS: (1) As of March 2008, 1957 serum samples (of 1557 patients) have been tested with an established cell based immunofluorescence aquaporin-4 antibody (AQP4-ab) assay with a high sensitivity and specificity (both >95%). All tests were performed in a single reference laboratory (Clinical Dept. of Neurology of the Innsbruck Medical University). (2) A nation-wide survey with several calls for participation (via email newsletters, articles in the official journal of the Austrian Society of Neurology, and workshops) was initiated in 2008. All collected data will be presented in a way that allows that every individual patient can be traced back in order to ensure transparency and to avoid any data distortion in future meta-analyses. The careful and detailed presentation allows the visualization and comparison of the different disease courses in real time span. Failure and response to treatment are made visible at one glance. Database closure was 31 December 2011. All co-operators were offered co-authorship. RESULTS: All 71 NMO- or NMO-SD patients with AQP4-ab positivity (age range 12.3 to 79.6 years) were analysed in detail. Sex ratio (m:f = 1:7) and the proportion of patients without oligoclonal bands in cerebrospinal fluid (86.6%) were in line with previously published results. All identified patients were Caucasians. CONCLUSIONS: A nationwide collaboration amongst Austrian neurologists with good network communications made it possible to establish a database of 71 AQP4-ab positive patients with NMO/NMO-SD. This database is presented in detail and provides the basis for further studies and international cooperation in order to investigate this rare disease.
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Diseño de Investigaciones Epidemiológicas , Neuromielitis Óptica/epidemiología , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Austria/epidemiología , Demografía , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Neuromielitis Óptica/sangre , Neuromielitis Óptica/diagnóstico , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Elevated plasma fibrinogen levels are a well known finding in acute infectious diseases, acute stroke and myocardial infarction. However its role in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of acute and chronic central (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) diseases is unclear. FINDINGS: We analyzed CSF and plasma fibrinogen levels together with routine parameters in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), acute inflammatory diseases of the CNS (bacterial and viral meningoencephalitis, BM and VM) and PNS (Guillain-Barré syndrome; GBS), as well as in non-inflammatory neurological controls (OND) in a total of 103 patients. Additionally, MS patients underwent cerebral MRI scans at time of lumbar puncture.CSF and plasma fibrinogen levels were significantly lower in patients with MS and OND patients as compared to patients with BM, VM and GBS. There was a close correlation between fibrinogen levels and albumin quotient (rho = 0.769, p < 0.001) which strongly suggests passive transfer of fibrinogen through the blood-CSF-barrier during acute inflammation. Hence, in MS, the prototype of chronic neuroinflammation, CSF fibrinogen levels were not elevated and could not be correlated to clinical and neuroradiological outcome parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Although previous work has shown clear evidence of the involvement of fibrinogen in MS pathogenesis, this is not accompanied by increased fibrinogen in the CSF compartment.
RESUMEN
Increasing research activities on humoral immune responses involved in the immunopathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) led to a revival of the importance of B cells and antibodies in MS. B cells seem now to play various immunopathogenetic roles in the initiation and propagation of inflammatory demyelinating processes at different disease stages of MS. The biological activities of antibodies in MS is, in general, still less known, although it emerges that antibodies are specifically involved in demyelination or, at least, mirror tissue destruction in the central nervous system. Finally, there is growing evidence that treatments, which specifically target B cells and/or antibodies, are effective in MS and its variants neuromyelitis optica (NMO). This chapter therefore aims to summarize the present knowledge and to outline future directions about the role of B cells and antibodies in research and therapy of MS and NMO.
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Formación de Anticuerpos , Linfocitos B/inmunología , Esclerosis Múltiple/inmunología , Anticuerpos Antivirales/biosíntesis , Acuaporina 4/inmunología , Autoanticuerpos/biosíntesis , Linfocitos B/patología , Sistema Nervioso Central/inmunología , Sistema Nervioso Central/patología , Enfermedades Desmielinizantes/inmunología , Enfermedades Desmielinizantes/patología , Herpesvirus Humano 4/inmunología , Humanos , Inmunoglobulina G/biosíntesis , Modelos Inmunológicos , Esclerosis Múltiple/patología , Esclerosis Múltiple/terapia , Proteínas de la Mielina , Glicoproteína Asociada a Mielina/inmunología , Glicoproteína Mielina-Oligodendrócito , Neuromielitis Óptica/inmunologíaRESUMEN
We have analyzed immunoglobulin (Ig) isotypes and IgG subclasses in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurological diseases to determine whether different Ig isotype patterns correlate with clinical or paraclinical findings and CSF B cell populations. Intrathecal IgG1 synthesis was elevated in MS patients. An increased intrathecal IgM production was found in patients with a higher cerebral MRI lesion burden, whereas other clinical and paraclinical parameters were not associated with a specific Ig isotype or subclass profile. Finally, intrathecal IgG production (IgG1 and IgG3) correlated with the presence of mature B cells and plasma blasts.
Asunto(s)
Inmunoglobulinas/líquido cefalorraquídeo , Esclerosis Múltiple Recurrente-Remitente/líquido cefalorraquídeo , Adolescente , Adulto , Linfocitos B , Líquido Cefalorraquídeo/citología , Femenino , Citometría de Flujo , Humanos , Inmunoglobulina G/líquido cefalorraquídeo , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Esclerosis Múltiple Recurrente-Remitente/patología , Enfermedades del Sistema Nervioso/líquido cefalorraquídeo , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Neuromyelitis optica (NMO), a severe demyelinating disease, represents itself with optic neuritis and longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis. Serum NMO-IgG autoantibodies (Abs), a specific finding in NMO patients, target the water channel protein aquaporin-4 (AQP4), which is expressed as a long (M-1) or a short (M-23) isoform. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The aim of this study was to analyze serum samples from patients with NMO and controls for the presence and epitope specificity of IgG and IgM anti-AQP4 Abs using an immunofluorescence assay with HEK293 cells expressing M-1 or M-23 human AQP4. We included 56 patients with definite NMO (n = 30) and high risk NMO (n = 26), 101 patients with multiple sclerosis, 27 patients with clinically isolated syndromes (CIS), 30 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or Sjögren's syndrome, 29 patients with other neurological diseases and 47 healthy controls. Serum anti-AQP4 M-23 IgG Abs were specifically detected in 29 NMO patients, 17 patients with high risk NMO and two patients with myelitis due to demyelination (CIS) and SLE. In contrast, IgM anti-AQP4 Abs were not only found in some NMO and high risk patients, but also in controls. The sensitivity of the M-23 AQP4 IgG assay was 97% for NMO and 65% for high risk NMO, with a specificity of 100% compared to the controls. Sensitivity with M-1 AQP4 transfected cells was lower for NMO (70%) and high risk NMO (39%). The conformational epitopes of M-23 AQP4 are the primary targets of NMO-IgG Abs, whereas M-1 AQP4 Abs are developed with increasing disease duration and number of relapses. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm M-23 AQP4-IgG Abs as reliable biomarkers in patients with NMO and high risk syndromes. M-1 and M-23 AQP4-IgG Abs are significantly associated with a higher number of relapses and longer disease duration.
Asunto(s)
Acuaporina 4/inmunología , Inmunoglobulina G/inmunología , Inmunoglobulina M/inmunología , Neuromielitis Óptica/inmunología , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Línea Celular , Femenino , Proteínas Fluorescentes Verdes/metabolismo , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Neuromielitis Óptica/clasificación , Isoformas de Proteínas/inmunología , Factores de Riesgo , Coloración y Etiquetado , Transfección , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Antibodies to aquaporin-4 (AQP4-Ab) are found in 60-80% of patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO), a severely disabling inflammatory CNS disorder of putative autoimmune aetiology, which predominantly affects the optic nerves and spinal cord. OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency of AQP4-Ab in patients with optic neuritis (ON), and to investigate the prognostic implications of AQP4-Ab seropositivity in such patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: AQP4-Ab serum levels were determined in 224 individuals from Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, and Turkey using a newly developed fluorescence immunoprecipitation assay employing recombinant human AQP4. RESULTS: AQP4-Ab were detectable in 8/139 (5.8%) patients with acute monosymptomatic optic neuritis (AMON) and in 10/17 (58.8%) patients with established NMO and a last relapse of acute ON (NMO/ON), but not in 32 patients with multiple sclerosis or in 36 healthy controls. At last examination, 4/8 (50%) seropositive AMON patients had met the criteria for NMO but 0/128 seronegative AMON patients. Disease severity differed significantly between seropositive and seronegative AMON. Complete bilateral or unilateral blindness occurred in six AQP4-Ab positive patients, but only in one AQP4-Ab negative patient. AQP4-Ab levels did not vary between seropositive AMON and NMO/ON and did not correlate with disease severity. Female gender, a relapsing course, and concomitant autoimmunity were associated with AQP4-Ab seropositive status and risk of developing NMO. CONCLUSION: AQP4-Ab is relatively rare among patients with AMON, but if present it predicts a high rate of conversion to NMO within one year.
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Anticuerpos/sangre , Acuaporina 4/inmunología , Neuritis Óptica/inmunología , Adolescente , Adulto , Factores de Edad , Anciano , Progresión de la Enfermedad , Femenino , Técnica del Anticuerpo Fluorescente , Humanos , Inmunoprecipitación , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Neuromielitis Óptica/epidemiología , Neuromielitis Óptica/patología , Neuritis Óptica/epidemiología , Neuritis Óptica/patología , Pronóstico , Recurrencia , Factores Sexuales , Resultado del Tratamiento , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: There is accumulating evidence from immunological, pathological and therapeutic studies that B cells are key components in the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In this prospective study we have for the first time investigated the differences in the inflammatory response between relapsing and progressive MS by comparing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cell profiles from patients at the onset of the disease (clinically isolated syndrome, CIS), relapsing-remitting (RR) and chronic progressive (CP) MS by flow cytometry. As controls we have used patients with other neurological diseases. We have found a statistically significant accumulation of CSF mature B cells (CD19+CD138-) and plasma blasts (CD19+CD138+) in CIS and RRMS. Both B cell populations were, however, not significantly increased in CPMS. Further, this accumulation of B cells correlated with acute brain inflammation measured by magnetic resonance imaging and with inflammatory CSF parameters such as the number of CSF leukocytes, intrathecal immunoglobulin M and G synthesis and intrathecal production of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and the B cell chemokine CxCL-13. CONCLUSIONS: Our data support an important role of CSF B cells in acute brain inflammation in CIS and RRMS.
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Linfocitos B/inmunología , Encefalitis/líquido cefalorraquídeo , Encefalitis/inmunología , Esclerosis Múltiple/líquido cefalorraquídeo , Esclerosis Múltiple/inmunología , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Biomarcadores/líquido cefalorraquídeo , Líquido Cefalorraquídeo/citología , Encefalitis/patología , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Estudios ProspectivosRESUMEN
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the CNS and comprises a heterogeneous spectrum of disease subtypes. The distinctive variability of clinical presentations, histopathologic and immunologic patterns, as well as neuroradiologic phenotypes in MS poses a diagnostic challenge to the attending physician and claims a more differentiated typing of MS patients by diagnostic biomarkers in order to anticipate the expected disease course and to stratify patients for specifically tailored therapies. In this paper, the major biomarkers presently recommended in the diagnosis of MS are reviewed, including magnetic resonance imaging, the analysis of cerebrospinal fluid parameters and the diagnostic relevance of antibodies to aquaporin-4 water channels and myelin antigens.