The pathologists take on progressive MS

Ann Neurol. 2015 Aug 3. doi: 10.1002/ana.24497. [Epub ahead of print]

Clinical and pathological insights into the dynamic nature of the white matter multiple sclerosis plaque.

 

Frischer JM, Weigand SD, Guo Y, Kale N, Parisi JE, Pirko I, Mandrekar J, Bramow S, Metz I, Brück W, Lassmann H, Lucchinetti CF.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

An extensive analysis of white matter plaques in a large sample of multiple sclerosis (MS) autopsies provides insights into the dynamic nature of MS pathology.

METHODS:

One hundred twenty MS cases (1,220 tissue blocks) were included. Plaque types were classified according to demyelinating activity based on stringent criteria. Early active, late active, smoldering, inactive, and shadow plaques were distinguished. A total of 2,476 MS white matter plaques were identified. Plaque type distribution was analyzed in relation to clinical data.

RESULTS:

Active plaques were most often found in early disease, whereas at later stages, smoldering, inactive, and shadow plaques predominated. The presence of early active plaques rapidly declined with disease duration. Plaque type distribution differed significantly by clinical course. The majority of plaques in acute monophasic and relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) were active. Among secondary progressive MS (SPMS) cases with attacks, all plaque types could be distinguished including active plaques, in contrast to SPMS without attacks, in which inactive plaques predominated. Smoldering plaques were frequently and almost exclusively found in progressive MS. At 47 years of age, an equilibrium was observed between active and inactive plaques, whereas smoldering plaques began to peak. Men displayed a higher proportion of smoldering plaques.

INTERPRETATION:

Disease duration, clinical course, age, and gender contribute to the dynamic nature of white matter MS pathology. Active MS plaques predominate in acute and early RRMS and are the likely substrate of clinical attacks. Progressive MS transitions to an accumulation of smoldering plaques characterized by microglial activation and slow expansion of pre-existing plaques. Whether current MS therapeutics impact this pathological driver of disease progression remains uncertain.

 Distribution of white matter plaques by disease duration

Lassmann H and Lucchinetti CF lab over a decade have defined MS at the tissue level. They've vacillated about the different patterns of MS lesions (e.g. demyelinating, predominantly oligodendrogial pathology etc), and visualized grey matter plaques, thereby spiking our interest in cortical pathology. However, this time around they've kept it simple, or as simple as you can keep MS pathology.

Firstly, active plaques are only found in early MS, whereas, inactive plaques dominate chronic longstanding MS. Interpretation: MS autoimmunity is burnt out in chronic progressive MS. Ergo, anti-inflammatory strategies will not succeed in progressive MS.

Secondly, smoldering (slowly expanding) plaques are frequently found in progressive MS, especially in PPMS. Interpretation: smoldering plaques contribute to disease progression (eureka!). Taking this a step further, the substrates for smoldering plaques are a) microglial activation, b) axonal damage and neurodegeneration.

Thirdly, male patients have more smoldering plaques than female patients, especially at 45 years and older. Interpretation: this maybe why the female gender is associated with a more favorable disease course and PPMS has a less female predominance.

An interesting set of findings to ponder over in, say, the next decade??

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