Identification of Biomarkers in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Serum of Multiple Sclerosis Patients by Immunoproteomics Approach

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune inflammatory demyelinating diseaseof the central nervous system. At present, the molecular mechanisms causing the initiation,development and progression of MS are poorly understood, and no reliable proteinaceousdisease markers are available. In this study, we used an immunoproteomics approachto identify autoreactive antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid of MS patients to use as candidatemarkers with potential diagnostic value. We identified an autoreactive anti-transferrin antibodythat may have a potential link with the development and progression of MS. We found this antibody at high levels also in the serum of MS patients and created an immunoenzymaticassay to detect it. Because of the complexity and heterogeneity of multiple sclerosis, it isdifficult to find a single marker for all of the processes involved in the origin and progressionof the disease, so the development of a panel of biomarkers is desirable, and anti-transferrinantibody could be one of these.