Impaired regulatory function and enhanced intrathecal activation of B cells in neuromyelitis optica: distinct from multiple sclerosis. Quan C, Yu H, Qiao J, Xiao B, Zhao G, Wu Z, Li Z, Lu C. Source Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Notable Increased Cerebrospinal Fluid Levels of Soluble Interleukin-6 Receptors in Neuromyelitis Optica. Wang H, Wang K, Zhong X, Dai Y, Qiu W, Wu A, Hu X.
Low Serum Vitamin D Levels and Recurrent Inflammatory Spinal Cord Disease Maureen A.
Keywords: albumin; antioxidant; bilirubin; neuromyelitis optica; uric acid Background: Oxidative stress plays a central role in neuropathology of multiple sclerosis (MS). The patients with MS have low antioxidant status. Antioxidant therapy may represent an attractive treatment of MS
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OBJECTIVE: To investigate an association between serum B cell activating factor of TNF family (BAFF) levels and anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody titers in patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) after rituximab treatment. BACKGROUND: Anti-AQP4 antibodies are present in approximately 70% of NMO patients. Such antibodies are probably pathogenic and the titers are elevated during relapse as compared with those in remission.
Wise Young, Ph.D., M.D. W
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the degree of blood-brain barrier disruption in patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and to clarify whether the levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (sVCAM-1) in patients with NMO can be useful biomarkers for blood-brain barrier breakdown.
Background: The identification of biomarkers able to improve the differential diagnosis between multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is challenging because of a different prognosis and response to treatment. Growing evidence indicates that brain and CSF N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) concentration is a useful marker for characterising different phases of axonal pathology in demyelinating diseases, and preliminary studies suggest that increased serum NAA levels may be a telltale sign of acute neuronal damage or defective NAA metabolism in oligodendrocytes
The aquaporin-4 (AQP4) water channel antibody is used in the diagnosis of neuromyelitis optica (NMO) due to its high sensitivity and high specificity. However, some patients are reported to have neither optic neuritis nor myelitis despite being positive for the AQP4-autoantibody (AQP4-Ab). Therefore, recent reports suggest that such patients should be diagnosed as having ‘AQP4-autoimmune syndrome’.
BACKGROUND: Anti-aquaporin-4 antibodies are believed to have a central pathogenetic role in neuromyelitis optica (NMO). B-cell activating factor (BAFF) is one of the crucial factors that determines the fate and survival of B cells and may play a role in induction of antibody-mediated autoimmunity. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of BAFF in NMO and multiple sclerosis (MS) patients
BACKGROUND: Anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody targets perivascular astrocyte foot processes, which contain abundant angiotensinogen, a precursor of angiotensin II, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and ACE2. OBJECTIVE: To disclose any abnormality in the intrathecal angiotensin II metabolic pathway in Japanese patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) or NMO spectrum disorders (NMOs) and positive for anti-AQP4 antibody.