Modelling MS Endowment
Move over EAE – researchers have introduced a new wrinkle to MS animal models. Seems that MS is remarkably similar to the necrotizing meningoencephalitis (NME) that affects Pug dogs (Windsor et al. Am J Vet Res 2023; epublished November 6, 2023). The condition is also known as Pug Dog encephalitis. As with MS, genetic factors and autoimmunity contribute to the etiology of NME. The early clinical courses are similar although the main pathological feature of NME is necrosis rather than demyelination. Interestingly, an earlier genome-wide association study of NME identified genes of interest, including DRB1 and DQA1, both of which play a role in MS (Greer et al. Tissue Antigens 2010;76:110-118). Read More
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The year in review – 2023
December 12, 2023The year 2023 was marked by a number of anniversaries and what may be a turning point in the approach to MS research and clinical practice. Read More
NfL a marker of microglial activation
December 6, 2023Elevated levels of serum neurofilament-light chain (NfL), a marker of axonal damage, are an indicator of increased microglial activation in the brain, according to a positron emission tomography (PET) study in Finland (Saraste et al. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2023;94:698-706). Read More
Biomarkers after stopping treatment may identify at-risk MS patients
November 30, 2023Increasing levels of neurofilament-light chain (NfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) after drug discontinuation may identify previously stable MS patients at risk of new disease activity, according to Comprehensive Longitudinal Investigation of MS at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital (CLIMB) investigators (Bose et al. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm 2023;10:e200167; free full text at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10574823/pdf/NXI-2023-000383.pdf ). Read More