Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological condition that affects nearly three times as many women as men. Traditionally, MS diagnosis requires various tests once symptoms manifest. However, a recent study reveals that individuals diagnosed with MS produce specific antibodies many years before symptoms onset. These antibodies can be identified in the blood, offering the potential for a simpler, earlier blood test for MS.
A recent study conducted by the University of California, San Francisco, may have discovered a potential method for diagnosing multiple sclerosis (MS) earlier and more easily. The researchers identified a unique set of antibodies in the blood of individuals who later developed MS, which were not present in those without the disease.
Caitlin Astbury, research communications manager at the MS Society in the United Kingdom, expressed enthusiasm for the findings, although she was not involved in the study. In a statement to Medical News Today, she said:
“We’re excited to see these results, which could one day lead to earlier diagnosis of MS for some people. Living with MS can be debilitating, exhausting, and unpredictable. Evidence tells us early treatment is beneficial. In the future, if neurologists are able to diagnose MS earlier, people could start treatment sooner.”
What is MS?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological condition estimated to impact approximately 2.8 million individuals globally. It disproportionately affects women, with nearly three times as many women affected as men. MS encompasses various forms, with the most prevalent being relapsing-remitting MS. In this type, individuals experience episodes of new or worsening symptoms followed by periods of remission, during which symptoms may partially or completely subside.
These symptoms, typically initiating between the ages of 20 and 40, may include:
- Muscle weakness and impaired mobility
- Numbness and tingling sensations in the face, body, and limbs
- Bladder and bowel dysfunction
- Profound fatigue
- Muscle spasms and tremors
- Visual disturbances
- Emotional fluctuations
MS is an autoimmune condition where the immune system targets the body’s own cells. In MS, immune cells attack the myelin sheath encasing and safeguarding nerve cells, resulting in a deceleration of nerve impulse transmission.
Diagnosis relies on various tests, including MRI scans of the brain and spinal cord, lumbar puncture to extract cerebrospinal fluid for analysis, and evoked potential tests to evaluate the speed and accuracy of nervous system responses.
Indicators of nerve damage in blood serum
In this study, researchers identified 250 individuals who had developed MS out of over 10 million United States military personnel. They then obtained serum samples from the Department of Defense Serum Repository from the time they enlisted, approximately 5 years before their initial clinical symptoms, and one year after their first MS attack.
These participants were matched for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and year of serum collection with 250 controls who did not have an MS diagnosis.
The researchers confirmed the serum findings by comparing them with serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) results from a cohort of incident MS patients at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF ORIGINS) who were enrolled at the onset of symptoms. They utilized data from 103 patients in the UCSF ORIGINS study.
They conducted molecular profiling of autoantibodies and neuronal damage in samples from the 500 participants, measuring serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) levels to detect nerve cell damage.
In those who later received an MS diagnosis, sNfL levels were elevated compared to control subjects many years prior to the onset of their first symptoms, indicating that nerve cell damage begins long before symptom onset.
Typical antibody profile in individuals who developed MS
Researchers examined the antibody profiles of both MS and control subjects using whole-human proteome seroreactivity (PhIP-Seq), a method capable of identifying autoimmune responses in serum and CSF.
They discovered that many individuals who later developed MS exhibited a specific pattern of autoantibodies, referred to as an “immunogenic cluster” (IC), which remained consistent over time — mirroring patterns observed in the ORIGINS cohort. This unique “autoantibody signature” was absent in control subjects.
Read More : Sleep disorders among women with multiple sclerosis and cognitive decline
Potential for earlier detection of MS
The study authors propose that the autoantibody signature they identified could have clinical significance for the early diagnosis of MS. They state:
“Given its specificity for MS both before and after diagnosis, an autoantibody serology test targeting the MSIC peptides could be utilized in a surveillance capacity for patients with a high likelihood of developing MS, or notably at the onset of a first clinically isolated neurological episode.”
Cortese further suggested that the autoantibody signature might serve other purposes:
“It would also be intriguing to investigate whether these antibodies could serve as a marker of disease severity and potentially account for some of the variability in the course of MS.”
Although early diagnosis could help many individuals mitigate the more severe symptoms of MS, Astbury emphasized to MNT that this is not the sole concern for those with the condition.
“This won’t address the needs of many individuals with progressive MS who have very limited or no treatment options. We urgently require new treatments so that all individuals living with MS can benefit from early diagnosis,” she explained.
