Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried and the Technical University of Munich have identified new diagnostic and prognostic markers for multiple sclerosis (MS). In a large-scale proteomic analysis, CSF samples from more than 5000 patients with various neurological diseases were examined using mass spectrometry.

About 1500 proteins could be quantified simultaneously per sample, and even up to 2100 proteins in an optimized method. The study uncovered systematic changes in the proteome of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that allow for a more precise differentiation of multiple sclerosis from other inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system.

Particularly relevant is the discovery of a panel of 22 proteins that improves diagnosis in difficult cases – for example, in about ten percent of MS patients who lack classic evidence of oligoclonal bands. These markers exceed established parameters in differential diagnosis compared to similar inflammatory CNS diseases.

In addition, the proteome pattern in the cerebrospinal fluid at the time of initial diagnosis correlates with the later course of the disease. It provides indications of the extent of long-term impairments, the risk of a transition from relapsing-remitting to a progressive course and the timing of such a change.

The method is based on further developments in mass spectrometry that allow high-throughput and in-depth protein analysis in body fluids. Non-specific neurological symptoms often complicate the early and reliable diagnosis of neurological diseases. The new findings could therefore contribute to accelerated and more reliable diagnostics and create the basis for individualized therapy decisions.

The method also opens up prospects for biomarker discovery in other neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or brain tumors. The results were published in the journal “Cell”.

Original Paper:

Jakob M. Bader, Christine Makarov, Sabrina Richter, Maximilian T. Strauss, Friederike Held, Maria Wahle, Michael Baggio Lorenz, Lara Pöschl, Patricia Skowronek, Marvin Thielert, Achim Berthele, Wen-Feng Zeng, Constantin Ammar, Isabell Bludau, Benjamin Schubert, Fabian J. Theis, Christiane Gasperi, Bernhard Hemmer, Matthias Mann: Large-scale proteomics across neurological disorders uncovers biomarker panel and targets in multiple sclerosis, Cell, February 2026

Editor: X-Press Journalistenbüro GbR

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