07 Jan CSF Biomarker May Signal Progression of Clinically Isolated Syndrome to MS
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Prof Rogier Q Hintzen
Prof Rogier Q Hintzen
Neurologist/immunologist
Head MS Centre ErasMS
Dept of Neurology
Erasmus MC, Rotterdam
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: Years ago, we identified soluble (s) CD27 as a biomarker for T cell activation in body fluids, as part of my PhD study. (J Immunol. 1991 Jul 1;147(1):29-35.)
As we presume the neuropathology seen in MS is guided by T cells we were interested to be able to quantify the activity of such cells in a given patient.
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is as close as we can get to the site of the disease process in MS, therefore we focus on biomarkers in this compartment.
We found clearly elevated levels of sCD27 in CSF of Multiple Sclerosis patients versus non-inflammatory controls.
In this study we investigated whether at the moment of first attack of suspected Multiple Sclerosis, quantification of CSF sCD27 can predict further progression in to a diagnosis of MS and whether sCD27 levels are correlated with later attack frequency. Indeed, we found that high sCD27 measured at this early stage predicts a more rapid diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis and a more aggressive disease course.
MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Response: This study underlines the role of T cell activation in further progression of MS. As early attack frequency is also linked to a more rapid longterm progression of the disease, measuring sCD27 in CSF is a potential candidate biomarker for treatment decisions, in the still growing landscape of therapeutic possibilities for patient with Multiple Sclerosis.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Response: sCD27 needs to be studied in larger international cohort studies that included patients from the very first attack (clinically isolated syndromes, CIS).
The relation with attack frequency and future EDSS course needs to be established first, before we can think of clinical application.
MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Response: I identified sCD27 as a biomarker in T-cell mediated diseases, and developed the immune assay (now put in the market by Sanquin, Amsterdam, The Netherlands).
However, I currently don’t have financials rights for this assay.
MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.
Citation:
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Last Updated on January 7, 2017 by Marie Benz MD FAAD