The Evolution of Neurofilament Light Chain in Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune, inflammatory neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system characterized by demyelination and axonal damage. Diagnosis and prognosis are mainly assessed through clinical examination and neuroimaging. However, more sensitive biomarkers are needed to...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2021.642384/full |
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| author | Carolina Ferreira-Atuesta Carolina Ferreira-Atuesta Saúl Reyes Saúl Reyes Gavin Giovanonni Gavin Giovanonni Sharmilee Gnanapavan Sharmilee Gnanapavan |
| author_facet | Carolina Ferreira-Atuesta Carolina Ferreira-Atuesta Saúl Reyes Saúl Reyes Gavin Giovanonni Gavin Giovanonni Sharmilee Gnanapavan Sharmilee Gnanapavan |
| author_sort | Carolina Ferreira-Atuesta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune, inflammatory neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system characterized by demyelination and axonal damage. Diagnosis and prognosis are mainly assessed through clinical examination and neuroimaging. However, more sensitive biomarkers are needed to measure disease activity and guide treatment decisions in MS. Prompt and individualized management can reduce inflammatory activity and delay disease progression. Neurofilament Light chain (NfL), a neuron-specific cytoskeletal protein that is released into the extracellular fluid following axonal injury, has been identified as a biomarker of disease activity in MS. Measurement of NfL levels can capture the extent of neuroaxonal damage, especially in early stages of the disease. A growing body of evidence has shown that NfL in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum can be used as reliable indicators of prognosis and treatment response. More recently, NfL has been shown to facilitate individualized treatment decisions for individuals with MS. In this review, we discuss the characteristics that make NfL a highly informative biomarker and depict the available technologies used for its measurement. We further discuss the growing role of serum and CSF NfL in MS research and clinical settings. Finally, we address some of the current topics of debate regarding the use of NfL in clinical practice and examine the possible directions that this biomarker may take in the future. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T12:39:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-261509739d4b43a2a7d4e83f72dff95d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-453X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T12:39:54Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-261509739d4b43a2a7d4e83f72dff95d2022-12-21T22:31:27ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neuroscience1662-453X2021-04-011510.3389/fnins.2021.642384642384The Evolution of Neurofilament Light Chain in Multiple SclerosisCarolina Ferreira-Atuesta0Carolina Ferreira-Atuesta1Saúl Reyes2Saúl Reyes3Gavin Giovanonni4Gavin Giovanonni5Sharmilee Gnanapavan6Sharmilee Gnanapavan7Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United StatesDepartment of Neurology, Hospital Universitario Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Bogotá, ColombiaDepartment of Neurology, Hospital Universitario Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Bogotá, ColombiaThe Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United KingdomThe Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United KingdomDepartment of Neurology, The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, United KingdomThe Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United KingdomDepartment of Neurology, The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, United KingdomMultiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune, inflammatory neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system characterized by demyelination and axonal damage. Diagnosis and prognosis are mainly assessed through clinical examination and neuroimaging. However, more sensitive biomarkers are needed to measure disease activity and guide treatment decisions in MS. Prompt and individualized management can reduce inflammatory activity and delay disease progression. Neurofilament Light chain (NfL), a neuron-specific cytoskeletal protein that is released into the extracellular fluid following axonal injury, has been identified as a biomarker of disease activity in MS. Measurement of NfL levels can capture the extent of neuroaxonal damage, especially in early stages of the disease. A growing body of evidence has shown that NfL in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum can be used as reliable indicators of prognosis and treatment response. More recently, NfL has been shown to facilitate individualized treatment decisions for individuals with MS. In this review, we discuss the characteristics that make NfL a highly informative biomarker and depict the available technologies used for its measurement. We further discuss the growing role of serum and CSF NfL in MS research and clinical settings. Finally, we address some of the current topics of debate regarding the use of NfL in clinical practice and examine the possible directions that this biomarker may take in the future.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2021.642384/fullmultiple sclerosisbiomarkersindividualized medicinepredicitonneurofilament lightdemyelination |
| spellingShingle | Carolina Ferreira-Atuesta Carolina Ferreira-Atuesta Saúl Reyes Saúl Reyes Gavin Giovanonni Gavin Giovanonni Sharmilee Gnanapavan Sharmilee Gnanapavan The Evolution of Neurofilament Light Chain in Multiple Sclerosis Frontiers in Neuroscience multiple sclerosis biomarkers individualized medicine prediciton neurofilament light demyelination |
| title | The Evolution of Neurofilament Light Chain in Multiple Sclerosis |
| title_full | The Evolution of Neurofilament Light Chain in Multiple Sclerosis |
| title_fullStr | The Evolution of Neurofilament Light Chain in Multiple Sclerosis |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Evolution of Neurofilament Light Chain in Multiple Sclerosis |
| title_short | The Evolution of Neurofilament Light Chain in Multiple Sclerosis |
| title_sort | evolution of neurofilament light chain in multiple sclerosis |
| topic | multiple sclerosis biomarkers individualized medicine prediciton neurofilament light demyelination |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2021.642384/full |
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