Serum levels of IgM to phosphatidylcholine predict the response of multiple sclerosis patients to natalizumab or IFN-β

We developed an ELISA assay demonstrating the high prevalence of serum IgM to phosphatidylcholine (IgM-PC) in the first stages of multiple sclerosis (MS). We aimed to analyze the role of serum IgM-PC as a biomarker of response to treatment. Paired serum samples from 95 MS patients were obtained before (b.t) and after (a.t) treatment with disease modifying therapies. Patients were classified as non-responders or responders to treatment, according to classical criteria. Serum IgM-PC concentration was analyzed using our house ELISA assay. The level of serum IgM-PC b.t was higher in patients treated later with natalizumab than in those treated with Copaxone (p = 0.011) or interferon-beta (p = 0.009). Responders to natalizumab showed higher concentration of serum IgM-PC b.t than those who did not respond to it (p = 0.019). The 73.3% of patients with the highest level of serum IgM-PC b.t responded to natalizumab. IgM-PC level decreased a.t in both cases, non-responders and responders to natalizumab. IgM-PC levels a.t did not decrease in non-responders to interferon-beta, but in responders to it the IgM-PC level decreased (p = 0.007). Serum IgM-PC could be a biomarker of response to natalizumab or interferon-beta treatment. Further studies would be necessary to validate these results.

Automated summary

We developed an ELISA assay, which demonstrated the high prevalence of serum IgM-PC in the early stages of multiple sclerosis. The study found that serum IgM-PC could be a biomarker of response to natalizumab or interferon-beta treatment.