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神经丝蛋白的结构功能及其在肌萎缩侧索硬化症早期诊断中的研究进展

Advances in the Structure and Function of Neurofilament Protein and Its Application in Early Diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

  • 摘要: 神经丝蛋白(neurofilament proteins, NFs)属于Ⅳ型中间丝,是神经元细胞骨架的重要组成部分,在维持轴突结构稳定性及可塑性方面发挥关键生理作用,保障轴突运输功能。病理状态下,NFs从轴突中脱落并发生异常聚集,引发轴突运输功能障碍,同时部分脱落的NFs组分外溢至外周循环系统。肌萎缩侧索硬化症(amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ALS)患者脑脊液及血液中的NFs浓度显著升高,其浓度变化与ALS疾病进展程度显著正相关,表明NFs可作为ALS的早期诊断标志物。本文以神经丝蛋白的结构、组装与生理功能关系为视角,聚焦其组装异常引发ALS的分子机制及临床表现,全面评述NFs作为新型体液标志物在ALS早期诊断及治疗监测中的应用进展,探讨该类标志物研发面临的病理性神经丝轻链蛋白(neurofilament light chain, NFL)片段未明、抗体开发受限及检测可重复性差三大瓶颈,需整合单分子阵列(single molecule array, Simoa)等超灵敏检测技术、基于病理片段鉴定的抗体优化策略及多组学标志物组合,为ALS精准诊断厘清突破路径,并为推进其临床转化应用提供理论支撑与未来研究方向指引。

     

    Abstract: Neurofilament proteins (NFs), defined as a type Ⅳ intermediate filaments, are important components of the neuronal cytoskeleton. They play a key physiological role in maintaining the structural integrity and plasticity of axons and in ensuring the axonal transport function. Under pathological conditions, NFs detach from axons and undergo abnormal aggregation, causing axonal transport dysfunction. In addition, some components of the detached NFs leak into the peripheral circulation system. In patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the concentration of NFs is significantly elevated in the cerebrospinal fluid and blood, and the changes in NFs concentration is significantly positively correlated with the disease progression of ALS, suggesting the potential of NFs being used as early diagnostic biomarkers for ALS. In this review, we explored the relationship between NFs structure, assembly, and physiological function, focusing on the molecular mechanisms and clinical manifestations of ALS caused by abnormal assembly of NFs. We comprehensively summarized recent advances in the application of NFs as a new humoral biomarkers for early diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of ALS. Key challenges in biomarker development—including undefined pathological neurofilament light chain (NFL) fragments, limited antibody availability, and poor assay reproducibility—are discussed. Strategies, including ultrasensitive detection technologies such as single molecule array (Simoa), antibody optimization based on pathological fragment identification, and multi-omics biomarker panels, should be integrated. These approaches may lead to breakthroughs, pave the way for precision-based ALS diagnosis, provide theoretical support for promoting its clinical translation and application, and offer ideas for future research.

     

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