School of Medicine

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common autoimmune disease of the central nervous system and is characterized by the destruction of myelin, an insulating lipo-protein layer that forms a sheath around neurons to enhance nervous system signaling. Given the promising characterization of the MMP-9, MBP, and Anti-MBPCP immunoglobulin axis in animal studies modeling multiple sclerosis, this report aims to examine whether this neuropathic process is similar in human studies of multiple sclerosis. This is the first clinical study to explore the possibility of quantifying novel biomarkers to characterize the pain profle of patients with painful conditions such as in MS. In this report, we are able to demonstrate that patients with clinically diagnosed MS do indeed have an increase in anti-MBPCP IgM and IgG in their serum and that the same patients have increased pain profiles when compared to the healthy volunteer control. Based on our results, we believe Anti-MBPCP immunoglobulins may represent one biomarker of clinical neuropathic pain in MS. Ultimately, exploring the relationship between the MMP-9, MBP, and Anti-MBPCP auto-antibodies and MS-associated clinical pain will provide novel diagnostic and therapeutic targets.