title: Biomarkers for neuromyelitis optica.
abstract: Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an acquired, heterogeneous inflammatory disorder, which is characterized by recurrent optic neuritis and longitudinally extensive spinal cord lesions. The discovery of the serum autoantibody marker, anti-aquaporin 4 (anti-AQP4) antibody, revolutionizes our understanding of pathogenesis of NMO. In addition to anti-AQP4 antibody, other biomarkers for NMO are also reported. These candidate biomarkers are particularly involved in T helper (Th)17 and astrocytic damages, which play a critical role in the development of NMO lesions. Among them, IL-6 in the peripheral blood is associated with anti-AQP4 antibody production. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in CSF demonstrates good correlations with clinical severity of NMO relapses. Detecting these useful biomarkers may be useful in the diagnosis and evaluation of disease activity of NMO. Development of compounds targeting these biomarkers may provide novel therapeutic strategies for NMO. This article will review the related biomarker studies in NMO and discuss the potential therapeutics targeting these biomarkers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center and College of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kuo-Hsuan
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center and College of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Long-Sun
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Ro
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center and College of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Rong-Kuo
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Lyu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center and College of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. Electronic address: cmchen@adm.cgmh.org.tw.
authors.forename: Chiung-Mei
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000494:pharmacology; D051401:Aquaporin 4 / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C496030:AQP4 protein, human; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D051401:Aquaporin 4; D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; C502936:tocilizumab
keywords: Anti-AQP4 antibody; Astrocytopathy; Biomarker; Neuromyelitis optica; Th17