Levels of Neurofilament Light at the Preataxic and Ataxic Stages of Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1
Abstract
Background and Objectives
Neurofilament light (NfL) appears to be a promising fluid biomarker in repeat-expansion spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs), with piloting studies in mixed SCA cohorts suggesting that NfL might be increased at the ataxic stage of SCA type 1 (SCA1). We here hypothesized that NfL is increased not only at the ataxic stage of SCA1, but also at its (likely most treatment-relevant) preataxic stage.
Methods
We assessed serum NfL (sNfL) and CSF NfL (cNfL) levels in both preataxic and ataxic SCA1, leveraging a multicentric cohort recruited at 6 European university centers, and clinical follow-up data, including actually observed (rather than only predicted) conversion to the ataxic stage. Levels of sNfL and cNfL were assessed by single-molecule array and ELISA technique, respectively.
Results
Forty individuals with SCA1 (23 preataxic, 17 ataxic) and 89 controls were enrolled, including 11 preataxic individuals converting to the ataxic stage. sNfL levels were increased at the preataxic (median 15.5 pg/mL [interquartile range 10.5–21.1 pg/mL]) and ataxic stage (31.6 pg/mL [26.2–37.7 pg/mL]) compared to controls (6.0 pg/mL [4.7–8.6 pg/mL]), yielding high age-corrected effect sizes (preataxic: r = 0.62, ataxic: r = 0.63). sNfL increases were paralleled by increases of cNfL at both the preataxic and ataxic stage. In preataxic individuals, sNfL levels increased with proximity to predicted ataxia onset, with significant sNfL elevations already 5 years before onset, and confirmed in preataxic individuals with actually observed ataxia onset. sNfL increases were detected already in preataxic individuals with SCA1 without volumetric atrophy of cerebellum or pons, suggesting that sNfL might be more sensitive to early preataxic neurodegeneration than the currently known most change-sensitive regions in volumetric MRI. Using longitudinal sNfL measurements, we estimated sample sizes for clinical trials with the reduction of sNfL as the endpoint.
Discussion
sNfL levels might provide easily accessible peripheral biomarkers in both preataxic and ataxic SCA1, allowing stratification of preataxic individuals regarding proximity to onset, early detection of neurodegeneration even before volumetric MRI alterations, and potentially capture of treatment response in clinical trials.
Trial Registration Information
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01037777.
Classification of Evidence
This study provides Class III evidence that NfL levels are increased in both ataxic and preataxic SCA1 and are associated with ataxia onset.
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Information & Authors
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© 2022 American Academy of Neurology.
Publication History
Received: September 14, 2021
Accepted: February 4, 2022
Published online: March 9, 2022
Published in issue: May 17, 2022
Disclosure
C. Wilke has nothing to disclose. D. Mengel has served as consultant for Biogen. L. Schöls, H. Hengel, and M. Rakowicz have nothing to disclose. T. Klockgether received consulting fees from Biohaven, Roche, UCB, Uniqure, and Vico Therapeutics. A. Durr is currently receiving grants from the NIH (RO1), French National Hospital Clinical Research Program, Agence nationale de la recherche, Triplet Therapeutics, Biogen, and Verum; serves on the advisory boards of Roche, Triplet Therapeutics, and Biogen; and holds partly a patent on anaplerotic therapy of Huntington disease and other polyglutamine diseases (B 06291873.5). A. Filla, B. Melegh, and . Schüle have nothing to disclose. K. Reetz has received grants from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (01GQ1402, 01DN18022), the German Research Foundation (IRTG 2150), Alzheimer Forschung Initiative eV (NL-18002CB), and Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance and honoraria for presentations or advisory boards from Biogen and Roche. H. Jacobi has nothing to disclose. M. Synofzik received consultancy honoraria from Orphazyme Pharmaceuticals and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, both unrelated to the current project and manuscript. He received consultancy honoraria from Ionis Pharmaceuticals on trial planning in SCA1, also unrelated to the current project and manuscript. Go to Neurology.org/N for full disclosures.
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