title: Neurofilament light antibodies in serum reflect response to natalizumab treatment in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increased levels of antibodies to neurofilament light protein (NF-L) in biological fluids have been found to reflect neuroinflammatory responses and neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether levels of serum antibodies against NF-L correlate with clinical variants and treatment response in MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  The autoantibody reactivity to NF-L protein was tested in serum samples from patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) (n=22) and secondary progressive MS (SPMS) (n=26). Two other cohorts of RRMS patients under treatment with natalizumab were analysed cross-sectionally (n=16) and longitudinally (n=24). The follow-up samples were taken at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after treatment, and the NF-L antibody levels were compared against baseline levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NF-L antibodies were higher in MS clinical groups than healthy controls and in RRMS compared to SPMS patients (p<0.001). NF-L antibody levels were lower in natalizumab treated than in untreated patients (p<0.001). In the longitudinal series, NF-L antibody levels decreased over time and a significant difference was found following 24 months of treatment compared with baseline measurements (p=0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Drug efficacy in MS treatment indicates the potential use of monitoring the content of antibodies against the NF-L chain as a predictive biomarker of treatment response in MS.
authors: Neuroimmunology Unit, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK Department of Pathology, VU University Medical Center and MS Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Sandra
authors: S
authors: Amor
authors: Department of Pathology, VU University Medical Center and MS Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Baukje J
authors: BJ
authors: van der Star
authors: Neuroimmunology Unit, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK MS Unit, Neurology Department, La Fe University Hospital, Valencia, Spain.
authors: Isabel
authors: I
authors: Bosca
authors: Neuroimmunology Unit, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK.
authors: Joel
authors: J
authors: Raffel
authors: Neuroimmunology Unit, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK.
authors: Sharmilee
authors: S
authors: Gnanapavan
authors: Neuroimmunology Unit, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK.
authors: Jonathan
authors: J
authors: Watchorn
authors: Neuroimmunology Unit, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK.
authors: Jens
authors: J
authors: Kuhle
authors: Neuroimmunology Unit, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK.
authors: Gavin
authors: G
authors: Giovannoni
authors: Neuroimmunology Unit, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Baker
authors: Neuroimmunology Unit, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Malaspina
authors: Neuroimmunology Unit, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK f.puentes@qmul.ac.uk puentesco@hotmail.com.
authors: Fabiola
authors: F
authors: Puentes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D000069442:Natalizumab; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000069442:Natalizumab; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; C044882:neurofilament protein L
keywords: Neurofilament light chain; antibodies; multiple sclerosis; natalizumab treatment; neurodegeneration; neuroinflammation