Neuroimmunology: Multiple Sclerosis Studies

Dr. Melanie Hart, Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Institute of Neurology.

The Department's research work regarding MS is focused on additional novel neurological CSF and serum biomarkers involved in neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration and hypoxia. It provides a facility for clinicians throughout the UK to samples to us for testing as part of routine NHS diagnostic work for MS patients. Excitingly, we are actively involved in MS trial work future and ongoing at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, and the UCL Department of Neuroinflammation in association with Professors Ken Smith, Olga Ciccarelli, Jeremy Chataway, Ahmed Toosy, Dr. Jia Newcombe and others in conjunction with other Neuroimmunology MS researchers across the UK.

The Neuroimmunology and CSF Laboratory Department has a 40 year plus history of association with Multiple Sclerosis biomarker testing, it pioneered the Oligoclonal Bands test (OCBS) and performs this assay for many centres with MS patients throughout the UK, as incorporated into the 2017 revision of McDonald Criteria for MS diagnosis ‘the presence of CSF-specific Oligoclonal bands allows a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis’. The revised McDonald criteria specifies the need for all potential MS patients to be additionally tested for Aquaporin 4 and MOG antibodies as some Neuromyelitis Optica Disorder patients may have overlapping phenotypes with MS. Due to this, starting Autumn 2018, the lab is also pleased to offer rapid testing for serum and CSF aquaporin 4 and MOG antibody testing in-house for many sites. The work on neurofilament proteins, in particular, from Dr Axel Petzold and others working closely here at the Neuroimmunology Unit and UCL Department of Neuroinflammation, has demonstrated that they would be a useful surrogate marker of neuroaxonal loss and clinical disability in MS and other neurological conditions. Research studies comparing MS patients to healthy controls show that there is a general increase in NF-L levels in patients, and a positive correlation with relapses. There is ongoing work studying human neurofilament proteins within the department.

NEWS (Winter 2020)

The Neuroimmunology Department is delighted to announce the introduction of CSF Neurofilament Light Chain analysis into routine NHS clinical use at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and has made this test available throughout the UK by referral of samples (see link to UCLH website for User Handbook, contact details and request form to order this test).