Proteomic Biomarkers in Multiple Sclerosis
Summary
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system characterised by demyelination, axonal injury and variable clinical progression. Proteomic biomarkers—specific proteins or patterns of protein expression detected in biological fluids or tissue—offer insight into disease mechanisms, provide potential markers of disease activity and guide personalised therapy. Advances in high-resolution mass spectrometry, affinity-based assays and spatially resolved sampling have enabled the detection of subtle alterations in the central and peripheral proteome. These changes shed light on immune-mediated damage, extracellular matrix remodelling, neurodegeneration and repair processes. Clinically, proteomic biomarkers promise to improve early diagnosis, predict conversion from a first neurological episode to established multiple sclerosis, monitor response to disease-modifying treatments and anticipate progression to disability.
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Proteomic Biomarkers in Multiple Sclerosis publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in proteomic biomarkers in multiple sclerosis across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Proteomic biomarker: Protein whose presence or abundance in a biological fluid or tissue reflects a specific disease state or pathological process.
Extracellular vesicle: Membrane-bound particle released by cells that carries proteins, lipids and nucleic acids, serving as a snapshot of cellular activity.
Shotgun proteomics: Mass spectrometry approach in which complex protein mixtures are enzymatically digested and analysed to identify and quantify peptides on a large scale.
Proximity extension assay: High-sensitivity antibody-based method in which dual recognition and DNA amplification enable simultaneous quantification of multiple proteins in plasma or serum.
References
- A role for vessel‐associated extracellular matrix proteins in multiple sclerosis pathology. Brain Pathology (2024).
- Differential Protein Expression in Extracellular Vesicles Defines Treatment Responders and Non-Responders in Multiple Sclerosis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2024).
- Plasma proteomic profiles of UK Biobank participants with multiple sclerosis. Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology (2024).
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