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Khalil M, Teunissen CE, Lehmann S, Otto M, Piehl F, Ziemssen T, Bittner S, Sormani MP, Gattringer T, Abu-Rumeileh S, Thebault S, Abdelhak A, Green A, Benkert P, Kappos L, Comabella M, Tumani H, Freedman MS, Petzold A, Blennow K, Zetterberg H, Leppert D, Kuhle J. Neurofilaments as biomarkers in neurological disorders - towards clinical application. Nat Rev Neurol 2024; 20:269-287. [PMID: 38609644 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-024-00955-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Neurofilament proteins have been validated as specific body fluid biomarkers of neuro-axonal injury. The advent of highly sensitive analytical platforms that enable reliable quantification of neurofilaments in blood samples and simplify longitudinal follow-up has paved the way for the development of neurofilaments as a biomarker in clinical practice. Potential applications include assessment of disease activity, monitoring of treatment responses, and determining prognosis in many acute and chronic neurological disorders as well as their use as an outcome measure in trials of novel therapies. Progress has now moved the measurement of neurofilaments to the doorstep of routine clinical practice for the evaluation of individuals. In this Review, we first outline current knowledge on the structure and function of neurofilaments. We then discuss analytical and statistical approaches and challenges in determining neurofilament levels in different clinical contexts and assess the implications of neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels in normal ageing and the confounding factors that need to be considered when interpreting NfL measures. In addition, we summarize the current value and potential clinical applications of neurofilaments as a biomarker of neuro-axonal damage in a range of neurological disorders, including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer disease, frontotemporal dementia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, stroke and cerebrovascular disease, traumatic brain injury, and Parkinson disease. We also consider the steps needed to complete the translation of neurofilaments from the laboratory to the management of neurological diseases in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Khalil
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
| | - Charlotte E Teunissen
- Neurochemistry Laboratory Department of Laboratory Medicine, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Sylvain Lehmann
- LBPC-PPC, Université de Montpellier, INM INSERM, IRMB CHU de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Markus Otto
- Department of Neurology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Fredrik Piehl
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tjalf Ziemssen
- Center of Clinical Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stefan Bittner
- Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), and Immunotherapy (FZI), Rhine-Main Neuroscience Network (rmn2), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Maria Pia Sormani
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Thomas Gattringer
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Division of Neuroradiology, Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Samir Abu-Rumeileh
- Department of Neurology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Simon Thebault
- Multiple Sclerosis Division, Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ahmed Abdelhak
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ari Green
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Pascal Benkert
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre and Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience (RC2NB), Departments of Biomedicine and Clinical Research, University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ludwig Kappos
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre and Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience (RC2NB), Departments of Biomedicine and Clinical Research, University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Manuel Comabella
- Neurology Department, Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Catalonia, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Hayrettin Tumani
- Department of Neurology, CSF Laboratory, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Mark S Freedman
- Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Axel Petzold
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, MS Centre and Neuro-ophthalmology Expertise Centre Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Moorfields Eye Hospital, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and the Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
| | - Kaj Blennow
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Paris Brain Institute, ICM, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
- Neurodegenerative Disorder Research Center, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, and Department of Neurology, Institute on Aging and Brain Disorders, University of Science and Technology of China and First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei, P. R. China
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London, UK
- Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hong Kong, China
- Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - David Leppert
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre and Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience (RC2NB), Departments of Biomedicine and Clinical Research, University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jens Kuhle
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre and Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience (RC2NB), Departments of Biomedicine and Clinical Research, University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
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Wilms AE, de Boer I, Pelzer N, In't Veld SGJG, Middelkoop HAM, Teunissen CE, Terwindt GM. NFL and GFAP in (pre)symptomatic RVCL-S carriers: a monogenic cerebral small vessel disease. J Neurol 2024:10.1007/s00415-024-12292-6. [PMID: 38581544 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-024-12292-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurofilament light chain (NfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) have emerged as biomarkers for cerebral small vessel disease (SVD). We investigated their role in a hereditary SVD model, retinal vasculopathy with cerebral leukoencephalopathy and systemic manifestations (RVCL-S). METHODS NfL and GFAP levels of 17 pre-symptomatic, 22 symptomatic RVCL-S mutation carriers and 69 controls were measured using a Simoa assay. We assessed the association of serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of NfL and GFAP with RVCL-S symptomatology and neuropsychological functioning. RESULTS Serum and CSF NfL levels were higher in symptomatic RVCL-S compared to controls ≥ 45 years (33.5 pg/mL vs. 9.2 pg/mL, p < 0.01; 8.5*102 pg/mL vs. 3.9*102 pg/mL, p < 0.01, respectively). Serum NfL levels were higher in symptomatic RVCL-S than pre-symptomatic carriers (33.5 pg/mL vs. 5.9 pg/mL, p = 0.02). Pre-symptomatic RVCL-S carriers had increased CSF NfL levels compared to controls < 45 years (5.2*102 pg/mL vs. 1.9*102 pg/mL, p < 0.01). No differences were found in GFAP levels across groups, but in RVCL-S carriers higher serum levels of both NfL and GFAP were linked to poorer global cognitive functioning (β[95%CI] = - 2.86 [- 5.58 to - 0.13], p = 0.04 and β[95%CI] = - 6.85 [- 11.54 to - 2.15], p = 0.01, respectively) and prolonged psychomotor test times (β[95%CI] = 6.71 [0.78-12.65], p = 0.03 and β[95%CI] = 13.84 [3.09-24.60], p = 0.01). DISCUSSION Higher levels of serum NfL and GFAP are associated with worse cognitive functioning in RVCL-S carriers and may serve as marker for disease progression. CSF NfL levels may serve as early marker as pre-symptomatic RVCL-S patients already show differences compared to young controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annelise E Wilms
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, PO Box 9600, 2300RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - I de Boer
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, PO Box 9600, 2300RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - N Pelzer
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, PO Box 9600, 2300RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - S G J G In't Veld
- Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - H A M Middelkoop
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, PO Box 9600, 2300RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Institute of Psychology, Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - C E Teunissen
- Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - G M Terwindt
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, PO Box 9600, 2300RC, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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Chen X, Lin Y, Wei K. Elevated Serum Neurofilament Light Chain Levels Are Associated With All-Cause Mortality: Evidence From National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2023; 78:2382-2386. [PMID: 36811342 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glad058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several studies have reported the association between blood neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels and all-cause mortality. However, the generalizability of these findings in general adults remains unclear. The study aimed to examine the association between serum NfL and all-cause mortality in a nationally representative population. METHODS Longitudinal data were obtained from 2 071 participants aged 20-75 years in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-14 cycle. Serum NfL levels were measured by using a novel, high-throughput acridinium-ester immunoassay. Kaplan-Meier curves, multivariate Cox regression analysis, and restricted cubic spline regression were employed to investigate the association between serum NfL and all-cause mortality. RESULTS Over a median follow-up of 73 (interquartile range = 12) months, 85 (3.50%) participants died. After adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle variables, comorbidity, body mass index, and estimated glomerular filtration rate, elevated serum NfL levels were still significantly associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio = 2.45, 95% confidence interval = 1.89-3.18 for per lnNfL increase) in a linear manner. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that circulating levels of NfL may serve as a biomarker of mortality risk in a nationally representative population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaotong Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Jing'an District Central Hospital of Shanghai, Jing'an Branch Affiliated to Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yong Lin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Jing'an District Central Hospital of Shanghai, Jing'an Branch Affiliated to Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kai Wei
- Department of Pharmacy, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
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Mak G, Menon S, Lu JQ. Neurofilaments in neurologic disorders and beyond. J Neurol Sci 2022; 441:120380. [PMID: 36027641 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2022.120380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Many neurologic diseases can initially present as a diagnostic challenge and even when a diagnosis is made, monitoring of disease activity, progression and response to therapy may be limited with existing clinical and paraclinical assessments. As such, the identification of disease specific biomarkers provides a promising avenue by which diseases can be effectively diagnosed, monitored and used as a prognostic indicator for long-term outcomes. Neurofilaments are an integral component of the neuronal cytoskeleton, where assessment of neurofilaments in the blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and diseased tissue has been shown to have value in providing diagnostic clarity, monitoring disease activity, tracking progression and treatment efficacy, as well as lending prognostic insight into long-term outcomes. As such, this review attempts to provide a glimpse into the structure and function of neurofilaments, their role in various neurologic and non-neurologic disorders, including uncommon conditions with recent knowledge of neurofilament-related pathology, as well as their applicability in future clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Mak
- McMaster University, Department of Medicine, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Suresh Menon
- McMaster University, Department of Medicine, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jian-Qiang Lu
- McMaster University, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
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