Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2017 Nov 28;5(1):e422.
doi: 10.1212/NXI.0000000000000422. eCollection 2018 Jan.

Neurofilament light chain predicts disease activity in relapsing-remitting MS

Kristin N Varhaug  1 , Christian Barro  1 , Kjetil Bjørnevik  1 , Kjell-Morten Myhr  1 , Øivind Torkildsen  1 , Stig Wergeland  1 , Laurence A Bindoff  1 , Jens Kuhle  1 , Christian Vedeler  1
Affiliations

Neurofilament light chain predicts disease activity in relapsing-remitting MS

Kristin N Varhaug et al. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. .

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether serum neurofilament light chain (NF-L) and chitinase 3-like 1 (CHI3L1) predict disease activity in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS).

Methods: A cohort of 85 patients with RRMS were followed for 2 years (6 months without disease-modifying treatment and 18 months with interferon-beta 1a [IFNB-1a]). Expanded Disability Status Scale was scored at baseline and every 6 months thereafter. MRI was performed at baseline and monthly for 9 months and then at months 12 and 24. Serum samples were collected at baseline and months 3, 6, 12, and 24. We analyzed the serum levels of NF-L using a single-molecule array assay and CHI3L1 by ELISA and estimated the association with clinical and MRI disease activity using mixed-effects models.

Results: NF-L levels were significantly higher in patients with new T1 gadolinium-enhancing lesions (37.3 pg/mL, interquartile range [IQR] 25.9-52.4) and new T2 lesions (37.3 pg/mL, IQR 25.1-48.5) compared with those without (28.0 pg/mL, IQR 21.9-36.4, β = 1.258, p < 0.001 and 27.7 pg/mL, IQR 21.8-35.1, β = 1.251, p < 0.001, respectively). NF-L levels were associated with the presence of T1 gadolinium-enhanced lesions up to 2 months before (p < 0.001) and 1 month after (p = 0.009) the time of biomarker measurement. NF-L levels fell after initiation of IFNB-1a treatment (p < 0.001). Changes in CHI3L1 were not associated with clinical or MRI disease activity or interferon-beta 1a treatment.

Conclusion: Serum NF-L could be a promising biomarker for subclinical MRI activity and treatment response in RRMS. In clinically stable patients, serum NF-L may offer an alternative to MRI monitoring for subclinical disease activity.

Clinicaltrialsgov identifier: NCT00360906.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Levels of neurofilament light chain (NF-L) associated with follow-up time (A) and MRI (B–D)
*p < 0.05.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Levels of chitinase 3-like 1 (CHI3L1) associated with follow-up time (A) and MRI (B–D)
Figure 3
Figure 3. Relationship between new T1 gadolinium-enhanced lesions and time of biomarker measurement
*p < 0.05; **p < 0.005.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Trapp BD, Peterson J, Ransohoff RM, Rudick R, Mork S, Bo L. Axonal transection in the lesions of multiple sclerosis. N Engl J Med 1998;338:278–285. - PubMed
    1. Lycke JN, Karlsson JE, Andersen O, Rosengren LE. Neurofilament protein in cerebrospinal fluid: a potential marker of activity in multiple sclerosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1998;64:402–404. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Bacioglu M, Maia LF, Preische O, et al. . Neurofilament light chain in blood and CSF as marker of disease progression in mouse models and in neurodegenerative diseases. Neuron 2016;91:56–66. - PubMed
    1. Meeter LH, Dopper EG, Jiskoot LC, et al. . Neurofilament light chain: a biomarker for genetic frontotemporal dementia. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2016;3:623–636. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Steinacker P, Feneberg E, Weishaupt J, et al. . Neurofilaments in the diagnosis of motoneuron diseases: a prospective study on 455 patients. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2016;87:12–20. - PubMed

Associated data