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Table 12 Hypothesis-driven analysis of biological and immune factors that may be associated with progression in MS

From: The Canadian prospective cohort study to understand progression in multiple sclerosis (CanProCo): rationale, aims, and study design

Categories of biological and immune factors that may be associated with progression in MS

• Markers of oxidative stress: plasma levels of lipid hydroperoxides, advanced oxidation protein products, and nitric oxide metabolites

• Molecules that signal alterations of the intestinal barrier that can impact on functions of CNS cell types (short chain fatty acids, intestinal fatty acid binding protein, LPS binding protein, LPS in some cases)

• Levels of matrix metalloproteinases and inhibitors

• Multiplex of cytokines and trophic factors: IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-11, IL-12, IL-13, IL-15, IL-17, IL-18, IL-21, IL-22, IL-23, IL-26, TNF, BDNF, NGF, leptin and other adipokines, insulin, type I and type II interferons using commercial multiplex platforms.

• Multiplex of chemokines: CCL2, CCL11, CXCL1, BAFF, CXCL13, CCL4.

• Metabolites using commercial platforms (Metabolon)

• Molecules associated with neurodegeneration (Abeta, tau, serum NFL, etc.)

• Molecules associated with astrocyte activation (GFAP, CH3L1, etc.)

• Profiling of immune cell subsets, cytokine production, and myelin-reactivity of T cell subsets using traditional platforms such as flow cytometry (CyTOF) and ELISPOT

• Profiling of autoantibody levels using autoantigen arrays that are spotted with myelin, CNS, and other antigens modulated during oxidative stress

• Serum Vitamin D level

  1. CNS Central Nervous System, IL Interleukin, TNF Tumor Necrosis Factor, BDNF Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor, NGF Nerve Growth Factor, CCL C Motif Chemokine Ligand, CXCL C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand, BAFF B Cell Activating Factor, NFL Neurofilament Light, GFAP Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein, CH3L Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1, CyTOF Cytometry Time of Flight, ELISPOT Enzyme-Linked Immune Absorbent Spot