Serum Neurofilament Light: A Biomarker of Neuronal Damage in Multiple Sclerosis

• Objective: Neurofilament light chains (NfL) are unique to neuronal cells, are shed to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and are detectable at low concentrations in peripheral blood. Various diseases causing neuronal damage have resulted in elevated CSF concentrations. We explored the value of an ultrasensitive single-molecule array (Simoa) serum NfL (sNfL) assay in multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: sNfL levels were measured in healthy controls (HC, n = 254) and two independent MS cohorts: (1) crosssectional with paired serum and CSF samples (n = 142), and (2) longitudinal with repeated serum sampling (n = 246, median follow-up = 3.1 years, interquartile range [IQR] = 2.0-4.0). We assessed their relation to concurrent clinical, imaging, and treatment parameters and to future clinical outcomes. Results: sNfL levels were higher in both MS cohorts than in HC (p < 0.001). We found a strong association between CSF NfL and sNfL (beta = 0.589, p < 0.001). Patients with either brain or spinal (43.4pg/ ml, IQR = 25.2-65.3) or both brain and spinal gadolinium-enhancing lesions (62.5pg/ml, IQR = 42.7-71.4) had higher sNfL than those without (29.6pg/ml, IQR = 20.9-41.8; beta = 1.461, p = 0.005 and beta = 1.902, p = 0.002, respectively). sNfL was independently associated with Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) assessments (beta = 1.105, p < 0.001) and presence of relapses (beta = 1.430, p < 0.001). sNfL levels were lower under disease-modifying treatment (beta = 0.818, p = 0.003). Patients with sNfL levels above the 80th, 90th, 95th, 97.5th, and 99th HC-based percentiles had higher risk of relapses (97.5th percentile: incidence rate ratio = 1.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.21-3.10, p = 0.006) and EDSS worsening (97.5th percentile: OR = 2.41, 95% CI = 1.07-5.42, p = 0.034). Interpretation: These results support the value of sNfL as a sensitive and clinically meaningful blood biomarker to monitor tissue damage and the effects of therapies in MS.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Neurovetenskaper (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Neurosciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID BIOMARKERS

FIBRILLARY ACIDIC PROTEIN

N-ACETYLASPARTATE

CSF NEUROFILAMENT

CHAIN PROTEIN

MARKER

IMMUNOASSAY

PROGRESSION

FINGOLIMOD

DISABILITY

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)