Molecular Biomarkers in Multiple Sclerosis and Its Related Disorders: A Critical Review

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system (CNS) which can lead to severe disability. Several diseases can mimic the clinical manifestations of MS. This can often lead to a prolonged period that involves numerous tests and investigations before a definitive diagnosis is reached. As well as the possibility of misdiagnosis. Molecular biomarkers can play a unique role in this regard. Molecular biomarkers offer a unique view into the CNS disorders. They help us understand the pathophysiology of disease as well as guiding our diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic approaches in CNS disorders. This review highlights the most prominent molecular biomarkers found in the literature with respect to MS and its related disorders. Based on numerous recent clinical and experimental studies, we demonstrate that several molecular biomarkers could very well aid us in differentiating MS from its related disorders. The implications of this work will hopefully serve clinicians and researchers alike, who regularly deal with MS and its related disorders.

Total and single species of uronic acid-bearing glycosaminoglycans in urine of newborns of 2-3days of age for early diagnosis application

BACKGROUND

Urine are easily accessible and relatively simple to process and uronic acid-bearing glycosaminoglycans (UA-GAGs) may serve as biomarkers for several diseases, like for mucopolysaccharidosis.

METHODS

We report a study from a large cohort of healthy newborns of 2-3days to have a basic profile of total content of urinary UA-GAGs, their composition and structural signatures utilizing a rapid extractive method and sensitive separation of enzymatic released disaccharides by capillary electrophoresis-light induced fluorescence. Results were also compared with those obtained from normal adult subjects.

RESULTS

A total of UA-GAGs content of ~35μg/mg creatinine was observed in 331 newborns versus 1.5μg/mg creatinine of adult urine composed of ~90% chondroitin sulfate (CS), ~7% heparan sulfate (HS) and ~3% hyaluronic acid (HA). No significant differences were observed with adults. Specific ratios between the main CS disaccharides were informative of a significant greater 4-sulfation and charge density for newborn compared to adults. The HS from newborn urine was mainly composed by the non-sulfated (~64%) and mono-sulfated (~28%) disaccharides. No significant differences were observed versus adult urine.

CONCLUSIONS

The present method is able to measure changes in UA-GAG composition and their structure independently of the age of subjects and rapidly applicable to the newborn diagnosis without necessity to have creatinine levels. Moreover, modifications in charge density values as well as the presence of sulfate groups in specific positions may be indicative of altered conditions.