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- Johansson, Kalle, et al.
(author)
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Cerebrospinal fluid amyloid precursor protein as a potential biomarker of fatigue in multiple sclerosis: A pilot study
- 2022
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In: Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders. - : Elsevier BV. - 2211-0348. ; 63
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Fatigue is the major cause of disability in MS. Fatigue has been suggested to be primary, part of the neurological disease; it can also be secondary to other diseases outside the CNS or exist as a separate comorbidity. The only forms of measurement currently available are through subjective standardized questionnaires, which are not able to identify primary MS-related fatigue. Therefore, there is a need for objective biomarkers of fatigue in MS. This study explored the viability of 17 possible biomarkers of primary fatigue in MS. Our chosen biomarker panel represents the function and health of different parts of the CNS. Methods: We evaluated 31 MS patients and 17 healthy controls using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). We assessed clinical parameters and collected CSF from all participants to analyze 17 biomarkers, some of which in multiple targeted sequences, reflecting structural and functional changes in the brain. Based on FSS scores, MS was divided into MS-Fatigue (MS-F, FSS >= 4) and MS-NoFatigue (MS-NoF, FSS < 4). Results: MS-F had significantly lower levels of amyloid precursor protein (APP) peptides than MS-NoF (p = 0.005, p = 0.011). The only biomarker correlating with FSS in any group was APP in MS (r = -0.47, -0.52; p = 0.007, 0.002). APP did not correlate with any clinical parameter in MS but correlated with multiple markers. In MS, FSS correlated with the ISI and months since diagnosis. Conclusion: Although the mechanisms remain unknown, altered APP metabolism in MS seems to be associated with fatigue. APP should be evaluated as a biomarker of the role of structural MS pathology in the development of fatigue in individual MS patients.
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| 2. |
- Fernström, Erik, et al.
(author)
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Cerebrospinal fluid markers of extracellular matrix remodelling, synaptic plasticity and neuroinflammation before and after cranial radiotherapy
- 2018
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In: Journal of Internal Medicine. - : Wiley. - 0954-6820. ; 284:2, s. 211-225
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Advances in the treatment of brain tumours have increased the number of long-term survivors, but at the cost of side effects following cranial radiotherapy ranging from neurocognitive deficits to outright tissue necrosis. At present, there are no tools reflecting the molecular mechanisms underlying such side effects, and thus no means to evaluate interventional effects after cranial radiotherapy. Therefore, fluid biomarkers are of great clinical interest. Objective Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of proteins involved in inflammatory signalling, synaptic plasticity and extracellular matrix (ECM) integrity were investigated following radiotherapy to the brain. Methods Patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) eligible for prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) were asked to participate in the study. PCI was prescribed either as 2 Gy/fraction to a total dose of 30 Gy (limited disease) or 4 Gy/fraction to 20 Gy (extensive disease). CSF was collected by lumbar puncture at baseline, 3 months and 1 year following PCI. Protein concentrations were measured using immunobased assays or mass spectrometry. Results The inflammatory markers IL-15, IL-16 and MCP-1/CCL2 were elevated in CSF 3 months following PCI compared to baseline. The plasticity marker GAP-43 was elevated 3 months following PCI, and the same trend was seen for SNAP-25, but not for SYT1. The investigated ECM proteins, brevican and neurocan, showed a decline following PCI. There was a strong correlation between the progressive decline of soluble APP and brevican levels. Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first time ECM-related proteins have been shown to be affected by cranial radiotherapy in patients with cancer. These findings may help us to get a better understanding of the mechanisms behind side effects following radiotherapy.
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