Gray matter is targeted in first-attack multiple sclerosis.

Schutzer SE, Angel TE, Liu T, Schepmoes AA, Xie F, Bergquist J, VĂ©csei L, Zadori D, Camp DG, Holland BK, Smith RD, Coyle PK

PLoS ONE 8 (9) e66117 [2013-09-10; online 2013-09-10]

The cause of multiple sclerosis (MS), its driving pathogenesis at the earliest stages, and what factors allow the first clinical attack to manifest remain unknown. Some imaging studies suggest gray rather than white matter may be involved early, and some postulate this may be predictive of developing MS. Other imaging studies are in conflict. To determine if there was objective molecular evidence of gray matter involvement in early MS we used high-resolution mass spectrometry to identify proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of first-attack MS patients (two independent groups) compared to established relapsing remitting (RR) MS and controls. We found that the CSF proteins in first-attack patients were differentially enriched for gray matter components (axon, neuron, synapse). Myelin components did not distinguish these groups. The results support that gray matter dysfunction is involved early in MS, and also may be integral for the initial clinical presentation.

Affiliated researcher

PubMed 24039694

DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0066117

Crossref 10.1371/journal.pone.0066117

pii: PONE-D-13-08002
pmc: PMC3769274


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