Distinguishing Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders Subtypes: A Study on AQP4 and C3d Epitope Expression in Cytokine-Primed Human Astrocytes.

ABSTRACT: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are severe autoimmune conditions affecting the central nervous system. In a subset of cases, no autoantibodies are detectable with the currently used routine assays. This study aimed to determine whether the levels of expression of aquaporin-4 (AQP4), excitatory amino acid transporter 2 (EAAT2), or complement C3/C3d and C5b-9 in human astrocytes following incubation with patient sera under inflammatory conditions differ between the various NMOSD subtypes and whether such differences can help to identify autoantibody-mediated cases of NMOSD. Levels of AQP4, EAAT2, complement C3/C3d and C5b-9 epitope expression on human astrocytes pretreated with various cytokines were quantitatively analyzed via indirect immunofluorescence after exposure to se

SUBMITTER: Alisch M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11920679 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature