Identification of novel non-myelin biomarkers in multiple sclerosis using an improved phage-display approach

PLoS One. 2019 Dec 5;14(12):e0226162. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226162. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Although the etiology of multiple sclerosis is not yet understood, it is accepted that its pathogenesis involves both autoimmune and neurodegenerative processes, in which the role of autoreactive T-cells has been elucidated. Instead, the contribution of humoral response is still unclear, even if the presence of intrathecal antibodies and B-cells follicle-like structures in meninges of patients has been demonstrated. Several myelin and non-myelin antigens have been identified, but none has been validated as humoral biomarker. In particular autoantibodies against myelin proteins have been found also in healthy individuals, whereas non-myelin antigens have been implicated in neurodegenerative phase of the disease. To provide further putative autoantigens of multiple sclerosis, we investigated the antigen specificity of immunoglobulins present both in sera and in cerebrospinal fluid of patients using phage display technology in a new improved format. A human brain cDNA phage display library was constructed and enriched for open-read-frame fragments. This library was selected against pooled and purified immunoglobulins from cerebrospinal fluid and sera of multiple sclerosis patients. The antigen library was also screened against an antibody scFv library obtained from RNA of B cells purified from the cerebrospinal fluid of two relapsing remitting patients. From all biopanning a complex of 14 antigens were identified; in particular, one of these antigens, corresponding to DDX24 protein, was present in all selections. The ability of more frequently isolated antigens to discriminate between sera from patients with multiple sclerosis or other neurological diseases was investigated. The more promising novel candidate autoantigens were DDX24 and TCERG1. Both are implicated in RNA modification and regulation which can be altered in neurodegenerative processes. Therefore, we propose that they could be a marker of a particular disease activity state.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Autoantigens / genetics
  • Autoantigens / immunology
  • Cell Line
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases / genetics*
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases / immunology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulin G / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Immunoglobulin G / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / blood
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / genetics*
  • Open Reading Frames
  • Peptide Library
  • Transcriptional Elongation Factors / genetics*
  • Transcriptional Elongation Factors / immunology

Substances

  • Autoantigens
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Peptide Library
  • TCERG1 protein, human
  • Transcriptional Elongation Factors
  • DDX24 protein, human
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases

Grants and funding

The research was funded by the Italian multiple sclerosis foundation (Fondazione italiana sclerosi multipla – FISM, www.aism.it) grant n. 2002R26 and 2004R6 to PE and by internal support of the University of Trieste. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. There was no additional external funding received for this study.