The study found that a distinct cluster of autoantibodies was present in 10% of people with multiple sclerosis (MS), appearing up to 5 years before the onset of clinical symptoms and remaining higher 1 year after diagnosis. This autoantibody signature was associated with a characteristic protein motif found in common viruses, including Epstein-Barr virus and hepatitis C virus, which are known risk factors for MS development.
The researchers analyzed blood samples from 250 individuals with MS and 250 matched controls, using a technique called phage display immunoprecipitation sequencing to screen for autoantibodies. They also measured serum neurofilament light (sNfL) levels, which were higher in the preclinical serum samples of people with MS, closer to the date of diagnosis, and significantly higher in post-onset compared to pre-onset samples.
These findings provide evidence that some people with MS exhibit early signs of neuroaxonal injury long before the onset of symptoms. The researchers suggest that further profiling of these patients over time could offer insights into the viral-host interactions that may be a hallmark of the disease.
While the study is preliminary and has no immediate clinical applicability, it corroborates the growing understanding that MS has a prodromal phase, which could accelerate progress toward earlier treatment or even prevention of the disease.
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by Batya Swift ... at www.medscape.com 05-01-2024
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/autoantibody-signature-flags-ms-years-before-symptom-onset-2024a10008f3Deeper Inquiries