human-serum-anti-aquaporin-4-immunoglobulin-g-detection-cell-based

Human Serum Anti-aquaporin-4 Immunoglobulin G Detection by Cell-based Assay

Anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4) immunoglobulin G (IgG) is the core diagnostic biomarker for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD). The cell-based assay ...

The First Hospital of Jilin University

 Blood-brain barrier (BBB) pathology exists in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD). However, the clinical use of BBB permeability, such as predicting disease severity of NMOSD, has rarely been studied in a large cohort of patients.  The current study explored the association between BBB permeability and clinical parameters in order to assess if BBB permeability could be a biomarker to predict disease severity and clinical characteristics of NMOSD.  Among 69 enrolled NMOSD patients, 47 with albumin index over 5 × 10 were assigned to the increased BBB permeability group, and the remaining 22 were to the normal BBB permeability group. Disease severity was assessed using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS).  Patients in the increased BBB permeability group had significantly higher EDSS scores, anti-aquporin-4 immunoglobulin G titers, more dense cerebrospinal fluid protein concentrations, white blood cell counts, myelin basic protein levels and more dense complement 3 concentrations than found in the comparative normal BBB permeability group. The albumin index was positively correlated to the length of lesions in spinal cord.  BBB permeability was associated with clinical features, laboratory results and radiological data of NMOSD patients, and may be a potential biomarker to predict disease severity and clinical characteristics of NMOSD.

Blood Brain Barrier Permeability Could Be a Biomarker to Predict Severity of Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders: A Retrospective Analysis.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are a spectrum of neuroinflammatory disorders associated with autoimmune antibodies against aquaporin-4 (AQP4). Accumulating evidence suggests that inflammation is involved in NMOSD pathogenesis. Resolution of inflammation, which is a highly regulated process mediated by specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPMs) is important to prevent over-responsive inflammation. Deficiency in resolution of inflammation may lead to or accelerates inflammatory diseases. However, whether resolution of inflammation is impaired in NMOSD is not known. The objective of this study was to analyze the levels of SPMs in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of NMOSD patients, and to explore the roles of SPMs in clinical features of NMOSD.

Resolution of inflammation in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an autoimmune inflammatory neurological disease characterized by longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) and optic neuritis. Interleukin (IL)-36 is a novel cytokine of the IL-1 family that is involved in the development of inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of IL-36α in NMOSD. We retrospectively collected 73 patients, who fulfilled the 2015 criteria for NMOSD diagnosis and were admitted to the Department of Neurology of the First Hospital of Jilin University from 2015 to 2016. Fifty age and gender matched patients with non-inflammatory neurological disorders (ONNDs) were collected in the same period and served as controls. Neurological function was evaluated by the expanded disability status scale (EDSS). All participants were assessed for the annual relapse rate (ARR). Blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were obtained and the levels of IL-36α in the serum and CSF were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). IL-36α levels in serum and CSF were found to be significantly increased in patients with NMOSD compared to those in the controls. Furthermore, IL-36α levels in both serum and CSF were positively correlated with the EDSS score. CSF IL-36α levels were positively correlated with CSF leukocyte counts, protein concentration and immunoglobulin IgG. Our results suggest that IL-36α may be a novel biomarker for monitoring disease severity in NMOSD.

Interleukin-36 alpha levels are elevated in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder and correlate with disease activity.

Caiyun Liu

Department of Neurology and Neuroscience Center

The First Hospital of Jilin University

Human Serum Anti-aquaporin-4 Immunoglobulin G Detection by Cell-based Assay