Pathology

Neuroscience

Disease

Bioinformatics

Biology

Gene

Biomarker discovery

Oncology

Neurofilament

Immunohistochemistry

Immunology

Multiple sclerosis

Biomarker

Proteomics

Biochemistry

Medicine

Frontiers in Neurology

Due to the unpredictable course and heterogenous treatment response in multiple sclerosis (MS), there is a clear need for biomarkers that reflect disease activity in the clinical follow-up of these patients. Neurofilaments are neuron-specific components of the cytoskeleton that can be assayed in different body compartments. They have been explored as potential biomarkers for many years. Neurofilament light chain (NF-L) appears the most promising biomarker in MS patients, and there is now little doubt that NF-L should have a role in the follow-up of MS patients. Newer assays and techniques for NF-L detection available in serum samples confirms the usefulness of NF-L as a biomarker. Nevertheless, there is still a need for prospective studies, and studies to determine clinical useful cut-off values. This review evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of NF-L as a biomarker in patients with MS.

Neurofilament Light Chain as a Biomarker in Multiple Sclerosis