Researchers at the University of Turku have identified a novel biomarker that may revolutionize how clinicians assess the progression and severity of multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. The groundbreaking study, published in Nature Medicine, offers promising new directions for both targeted treatment and faster development of therapeutic drugs—particularly for progressive MS, which remains one of the most challenging forms of the disease to treat.
The Role of Inflammation in MS Lesions
Multiple sclerosis is characterized by lesions—areas of inflammation and nerve cell damage—scattered throughout the brain and spinal cord. While MRI scans have long been used to detect these lesions, predicting the course of disease progression remains a significant challenge for neurologists.
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The new research, led by Professor Laura Airas from the University of Turku in collaboration with scientists in Germany and the Netherlands, highlights the thickness of the inflammatory cell rim that forms around brain lesions as a key indicator of disease progression.
“When microglial cells form a thick rim around MS lesions, their harmful activity pushes deeper into healthy brain tissue, causing irreversible damage,” said Professor Airas.
Advanced Imaging and Tissue Analysis: A Combined Approach
The team analyzed positron emission tomography (PET) scans from 114 Finnish MS patients and correlated this imaging data with post-mortem brain tissue samples from Dutch MS patients. This multi-modal approach allowed the researchers to observe the real-time inflammatory activity within the brain and validate those findings with cellular-level histopathology.
The data revealed a strong, direct relationship between the width of the inflammatory rim and the rate and severity of disease progression. In short, patients with broader rims surrounding their lesions experienced faster and more aggressive neurological decline.
Clinical Implications: Identifying High-Risk Patients Early
This new biomarker gives clinicians a tangible metric to identify patients at risk of rapid disease progression and those who may benefit from early, aggressive treatment strategies.
“This discovery allows us not only to identify patients who need more aggressive treatment earlier but also to evaluate the effectiveness of new drug candidates by observing changes in lesion rims,” Professor Airas explained.
Such precision in monitoring could make a significant difference, particularly in progressive MS, a subtype of the disease with fewer effective therapies and poorer outcomes.
Accelerating Drug Development
Beyond direct clinical application, the biomarker could also streamline drug trials by providing an objective and quantifiable measure of treatment efficacy. Pharmaceutical companies developing new therapies for MS can now observe the biomarker as a surrogate endpoint, potentially accelerating trial timelines and approvals.
The discovery is especially timely given recent momentum in MS research and an increased push for personalized medicine approaches. With MS affecting nearly 2.8 million people globally, according to the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation, innovations like this biomarker are vital in reducing both the personal and societal burden of the disease.
Future Research Directions
The team at the University of Turku plans to expand this research with longitudinal studies that track how inflammatory rims evolve over time and how different medications might influence their development.
“There is potential here to redefine how we understand disease activity—not just looking at the size or number of lesions but also their internal structure and inflammatory behavior,” said Professor Airas.
Researchers are also interested in exploring whether similar inflammatory biomarkers can be identified in other neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s, where microglial activity is also implicated.
A Step Toward Personalized MS Care
This landmark finding strengthens the movement toward individualized treatment plans in MS care, where patients can receive therapies tailored to their unique disease profiles.
For patients living with MS and their families, the discovery brings renewed hope—hope that earlier intervention, more accurate prognosis, and more effective therapies are now within reach.
About the University of Turku:
Located in southwest Finland, the University of Turku is one of the country’s leading research institutions and a pioneer in neuroimaging, neuroinflammation, and translational medicine. The MS research team, led by Professor Laura Airas, is internationally recognized for their contributions to understanding and treating neurodegenerative diseases.
