Human Subjects with Multiple Sclerosis

In a study involving 89 people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS), serum chitotriosidase (CHIT1) levels showed positive correlations with the number, volume, and percentage of active lesions, as well as with glial activation measured by TSPO-PET imaging in brain regions near these lesions.

Tags: #MSResearch
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Source: Read original source (PMID 42836634)

This plain-English summary was written by AI from a published abstract and may contain errors. It is not medical advice. Read the original study and talk to your MS team before making decisions about treatment.

Why it matters

These correlations suggest that CHIT1 may relate to the extent of glial activation in MS, potentially informing future research on biomarkers for disease activity.

What this does not prove

Although correlations were found, the study does not establish causation, and the potential use of CHIT1 as a biomarker requires further investigation.

Next milestone

No next milestone was established from the available source.

Study facts

Study design: Observational
Participants / samples: 89 · pwMS
Randomised: Not reported
Controlled: Not reported
Primary endpoint met: Not reported
Relevant MS type: RRMS, PPMS
Publication date: 2026-10-06
Evidence reviewed: Abstract only
Regulatory approval: Not reported
Research areas: Not classified

Original sources

Primary evidenceSerum Chitotriosidase Links to Activated Glia at Chronic Active Lesion Rims in Multiple Sclerosis Brain. ↗DOI: 10.1002/ana.78386

Supporting passages (9)

study designcross-sectional study

subjects89 pwMS (19 progressive MS [PMS] and 70 relapsing-remitting MS [RRMS]) and 16 age- and sex-matched healthy controls

sample size89

sample size basispwMS

relevant ms typesMETHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 89 pwMS (19 progressive MS [PMS] and 70 relapsing-remitting MS [RRMS]) and 16 age- and sex-matched healthy controls underwent [11C]PK11195 TSPO-PET.

publication date2026-10-06

primary endpointOBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to explore the association between 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO)-positron emission tomography (PET)-measurable glial activation and serum chitotriosidase (CHIT1) in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS), and its expression in postmortem MS brain tissue.

findingsRESULTS: CHIT1 correlated positively with the number (ρ = 0.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.01-0.58, p = 0.038), volume (ρ = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.08-0.63, p = 0.013), and percentage (ρ = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.003-0.57, p = 0.046) of rim-active lesions and with TSPO-binding in the T1-weighted perilesional area (ρ = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.05-0.61, p = 0.020) in the exploratory CHIT1-high cohort divided based on median CHIT1 concentration in pwMS (22.1 ng/ml).

limitationsTitle: Serum Chitotriosidase Links to Activated Glia at Chronic Active Lesion Rims in Multiple Sclerosis Brain.

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