The Role of the Neuropeptide Vgf in Multiple Sclerosis
As the most common chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) Multiple Sclerosis (MS) affects more than two million people all over the world. The continuous loss of nerve cells, which leads to an increasing handicap is based on the invasion of auto reactive T-Lymphocytes into the CNS. Different sub-forms of MS may be defined in accordance with the clinical course: The largest portion (85%) is made up by the relapsing remitting MS (RRMS) – however, recurring acute symptoms are completely decreasing. The RRMS transforms into a secondary progredient form(SPMS) with a steady symptom progression in 50% of these patients. Furthermore, a small part of MS patients (15%) is affected by a chronic progression (PPMS).
Limited prognosis possibilities
Despite good examination methods as for example magnet resonance tomography (MRT), so far there is no possibility to predict the disease or to assess the future progression. If the physical or cognitive limitation of a patient will increase or remain constant in the next years cannot be determined for sure with today’s diagnostic means. Therefore, the need for biomarkers which can represent or predict the progression of a disease is urgent in order to minimize the stressful uncertainty for patients and their social environment. Neuropeptides, which are produced locally in the nervous system have a great potential as biomarkers for neurological diseases.
Neuropeptide with prediction potential
The neuropeptide Vgf and its fission products are such promising biomarker candidates. The fission products are produced intracellular in the CNS and are then secreted into the surrounding tissue and blood. A change in concentration of Vgf in the serum could already be proved in different neurological diseases. This hints at a dynamic adaption of Vgf in neuronal defects. Despite this promising characteristics of Vgf as a diagnostic tool, the neuropeptide has not been examined in the context of MS. As well as in the experimental autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE), an established mouse model of Multiple Sclerosis as in certain sub forms of MS, we could already observe a change in the production of Vgf in our own first trials. So far, these results hint at the possibility that Vgf peptides may serve as potential biomarkers for MS. The aim of our research project is to establish Vgf as a biomarker for the progression of the disease in MS. That is why we plan to expand the spectrum of times of measurement in order to be able to present the dynamic of the Vgf profile in different disease stages in a more detailed way. Furthermore, we will expand the measurement of the Vgf peptides in the serum on a larger patient cohort and thus generate robust results for the clinical translation. We plan to include further stages or sub forms into the analysis of the serum samples of MS patients and thus gain a more specific insight into the mechanisms that influence the dynamic change of the Vgf concentration in the Serum.
Less uncertainty for affected persons
Multiple Sclerosis is the most common non-traumatic cause for neurological handicaps in young adults. The individual progression of the disease vary from long asymptomatic phases to fast progressing severe handicaps and are still not predictable. A better insight into the individual disease progression might facilitate an adapted treatment strategy and thus relieve the patients from a part of the uncertainty. The neuropeptide Vgf is a promising candidate in the search for a biomarker which represents the disease activity and eventually even may predict it.
Student research group
- Lukas Can Bal
- Hannah Maria Hagemeyer
Mentor
- Prof. Dr. med. Manuel A. Friese