Weird biomarker

[frodo]

Though I don't understand fully what they say, it seems that they have created a molecule with a fluorescent substrate surrounded by MBP proteins.

These compound is incubated with antibodies and B cells from MS patients, and the authors report that in this case it degrades, but it does not degrade with cells from healthy volunteers.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.10 ... 19-04520-1

Abstract.

Previous data showed that myelin-reactive autoantibodies found in patients with multiple sclerosis and mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis recognize and hydrolyze various fragments of myelin basic protein (MBP). Moreover, antibody-mediated cleavage of the encephalithogenic fragment MBP81-103 flanked with two fluorescent proteins can serve as a new biomarker of multiple sclerosis.

Here we describe creation of the next generation of this biomarker based on antibody-dependent degradation of a new chemically synthesized fluorescent substrate with resonance energy transfer that contains fluorophore Cy5 and quencher QXL680 separated by MBP81-99 protein (Cy5-MBP81-99-QXL680). This substrate is degraded during incubation with purified antibodies and B cells from patients with multiple sclerosis, but not healthy volunteers.

[NHE]

It appears to be an in vitro fluorescent assay for testing for the presence of anti-MBP antibodies.

Another nail in the coffin of the T cell model of the disease.

[frodo]

I agree. The T-cell model is dead. At least the CD4+ classic model.