Plasma protein profiling reveals candidate biomarkers for multiple sclerosis treatment.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment options have improved significantly over the past decades, but the consequences of MS can still be devastating and the needs for monitoring treatment surveillance are considerable. In the current study we used affinity proteomics technology to identify potential biomarkers which could ultimately be used to as facilitate treatment decisions. We profiled the intra-individual changes in the levels of 59 target proteins using an antibody suspension bead array in serial plasma samples from 44 MS patients during treatment with natalizumab followed by fingolimod. Nine proteins showed decreasing plasma levels during natalizumab treatment, with PEBP1 and RTN3 displaying the most significant changes. Protein levels remained stable during fingolimod treatment for both proteins. The decreasing PEBP1 levels during natalizumab treatment could be validated using ELISA and replicated in an independent cohort. These results support the use of this technology as a high throughput method of identifying potentially useful biomarkers of MS treatment.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

Sahl Khalid Bedri, Anna Månberg, Carl Hamsten, Burcu Ayoglu, Ali Manouchehrinia, Peter Nilsson and Hans Grönlund have declared that no competing interests exist. Ola B. Nilsson is employed by TCER AB. Katharina Fink has received an unrestricted research grant from Biogen and travel compensations for holding lectures by Biogen, Teva, Roche and Novartis. Tomas Olsson received compensation for serving on scientific advisory boards or conducting lectures for Biogen and Genzyme, as well as unrestricted research grants from Biogen, Novartis, Genzyme, Almirall, and AstraZeneca. Jan Hillert received honoraria for serving on advisory boards for Biogen and Novartis and speaker’s fees from Biogen, Merck Serono, Bayer Schering, Teva and Sanofi Genzyme. He has served as P.I. for projects sponsored by, or received unrestricted research support from, Biogen, Sanofi Genzyme, Merck Serono, TEVA, Novartis and Bayer Schering. Anna Glaser has received unrestricted research support from Biogen. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.