Biomarkers of Disease: Discovery and Clinical Applications

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Since the time of Hippocrates, physicians have used specific odours or colours of body excretions (urine, faeces, exhaled air or sweat) as markers of certain diseases. With the development of instrumental analysis, it has become possible to search out new biological markers useful for the early diagnosis of pathologies, disease staging and treatment efficacy monitoring. In the last decade, the search for new biomarkers has become an area of intensive research. There is, in our opinion, a need to present current research in this field within the framework of a single Topic, leveraging the participation of six related journals to publish studies with diverse theoretical backgrounds, including chemistry, biochemistry, clinical chemistry and medicine. This Topic will aim to cover the latest research trends and achievements in disease biomarker discovery, their validation and developments in their clinical applications. Researchers studying all aspects of biomarkers and their applications in biomedical and clinical sciences are cordially invited to contribute a research or review article for this Topic.

Dr. Ioannis Kanakis
Dr. Andreas Tsakalof
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Biomedicines biomedicines	3.9	6.8	2013	14.6 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Cancers cancers	4.4	8.8	2009	17.4 Days	CHF 2900	Submit
Diagnostics diagnostics	3.3	5.9	2011	20.3 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Journal of Clinical Medicine jcm	2.9	5.2	2012	16 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Metabolites metabolites	3.7	6.9	2011	16.1 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Targets targets	-	-	2023	28.4 Days	CHF 1000	Submit

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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All Biomedicines Cancers Diagnostics JCM Metabolites Targets

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14 pages, 1169 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Longitudinal Changes in Neuroaxonal and Inflammatory CSF Biomarkers in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Undergoing Interferon Beta Therapy

by Simona Petrescu, Maria-Melania Dumitru-Martoiu, Cristina Aura Panea and Charlotte E. Teunissen

Biomedicines 2025, 13(6), 1394; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13061394 - 6 Jun 2025

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Abstract

Background/Objective: Neurofilament light chain (Nf-L), neurofilament heavy chain (Nf-H), and chitinase 3-like 1 (CHI3L1) are cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers of neuroaxonal damage and inflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS). Their longitudinal response to disease-modifying therapies and association with clinical and radiological outcomes remain incompletely [...] Read more.

Background/Objective: Neurofilament light chain (Nf-L), neurofilament heavy chain (Nf-H), and chitinase 3-like 1 (CHI3L1) are cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers of neuroaxonal damage and inflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS). Their longitudinal response to disease-modifying therapies and association with clinical and radiological outcomes remain incompletely understood. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of interferon beta (IFN-β) therapy on CSF levels of Nf-L, Nf-H, and CHI3L1 in early relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS) and assess their association with long-term clinical outcomes and MRI activity. Methods: We conducted a prospective two-year observational study involving 14 treatment-naive RRMS patients who initiated IFN-β therapy. CSF levels of Nf-L, Nf-H, and CHI3L1 were measured at baseline and after two years. Clinical disability was assessed via the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and by studying brain MRI activity. A 15-year clinical follow-up was performed for 12 patients. Results: Nf-L levels significantly decreased after two years of IFN-β treatment (p = 0.039), while CHI3L1 levels significantly increased (p = 0.001). Nf-H levels remained stable. Nf-L and CHI3L1 levels at baseline and follow-up correlated with relapse rate and long-term EDSS. Nf-H levels correlated with EDSS scores but not with relapse or MRI activity. A trend toward a positive correlation between increasing Nf-L levels and MRI activity was observed (p = 0.07). Conclusions: CSF biomarkers demonstrate differential responses to IFN-β therapy in early RRMS. Nf-L emerges as a sensitive biomarker of treatment response and disease activity, while CHI3L1 may reflect ongoing tissue remodeling and inflammation. These findings support the utility of CSF biomarker monitoring for personalized treatment strategies in MS. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biomarkers of Disease: Discovery and Clinical Applications)

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