Projects & Grants
| Intrathecal synthesis of specific antibodies in multiple sclerosis and central nervous system infections | |
|---|---|
| Project Id | |
| Main solver | Mgr. Karin Lichá |
| Period | 1/2025 - 12/2025 |
| Provider | Specifický VŠ výzkum |
| State | solved |
| Anotation | Intrathecal synthesis of specific antibodies against neurotrophic viruses (measles, rubella, varicella zoster) termed MRZ reaction expressed by the antibody index (AI) is now considered to be the most specific laboratory biomarker of multiple sclerosis (MS). This has been also confirmed in our patient population (Revendová et al. However) . Sensitivity of this test, however, is substantially lower in our patients (32 %) than in Germany (63%) (Revendová et al. 2024; Hottenrott et al., 2018). Parallel detection of intrathecal synthesis of IgG antibodies against other viruses, e.g. mumps virus, parvovirus B19 and herpes simplex virus, could contribute to increase the test sensitivity. Our goal is to prove potential benefit of this extended specific IgG antibody panel for the diagnosis of MS. Since only intrathecal synthesis of specific antibodies against antigens that had been encountered by an individual during life is to be expected, we will examine the frequency of parvovirus B19 seropositivity in the population of tested patients. Detection of intrathecal synthesis of specific antibodies based on the calculation of so called antibody index does not permit to differentiate between intrathecal synthesis induced by CNS infection with the respective virus and intrathecal synthesis that forms a part of polyspecific antibody response characteristic of MS. For this purpose, a method of specific antibody quantification in weight concentration units (mg/L) has been proposed, with the following calculation of intrathecal fraction of specific antibodies, Fs. This method, however, is very rarely used. |
