Longitudinal Assessment of Iron Rims in MS Lesions

Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Trial

Official title:

Longitudinal Assessment of Iron Rims in White Matter MS Lesions as a Marker of Disability

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Not yet recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT05123443
• Other study ID #: 21NS037
• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Start date: January 1, 2022
• Est. completion date: September 30, 2022

Study information

• Verified date: November 2021
• Source: Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Observational

Clinical Trial Summary

In multiple sclerosis (MS), the presence of white matter lesions surrounded by a rim of iron is suggested to signify a more severe disease course. Iron rim lesions can be detected through their appearance on susceptibility-based brain MRI at either 3-Tesla or 7-Tesla strength. We know that the formation of chronic active lesions is not uniform across MS cohorts so identifying risk factors which predispose individuals to the formation of rim lesions may provide a useful biomarker for clinical progression. One candidate set of risk factors include genetic variants which prevent some MS patients from resolving acute inflammation following their initial wave of inflammatory demyelination at lesion onset.

Additionally, only small longitudinal clinical cohorts have reported the evolution of iron rim lesions many years after their initial formation, as well as their link to clinical disability or disease progression.

NUH hold 7T-MRI scans of over 100 patients who received a research MRI with iron-sensitive sequences between 2008-2012. We will recruit 100 patients that received brain MRI several years ago to provide blood samples. The blood samples along with the previously acquired MRI scan will be sent to Johns Hopkins University in the US where genotyping studies will be performed to explore whether this genetic variation contributes to the accrual of chronic active rim lesions in MS. Patients who consent to provide blood samples will also have the option to consent to receive an additional 7-Tesla MRI scan which will allow us to compare how rim lesions evolve and whether their presence is correlated with disability. 30 MRI scans will initially be performed as funding for this amount is already secured.

Following analysis of the pilot phase 1 data and securing additional funds, we will contact more patients who have already consented to receive the additional MRI to receive the scan

Description:

The presence of multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions which are surrounded by a rim of iron (IRL) is suggested to signify a more severe disease course. These IRLs can be detected on ultra-high field strength brain MRI like 7-T or 3-T. Studies with large MS patient cohorts have demonstrated that IRLs are particularly frequent in progressive MS subtypes. So far only small longitudinal MRI and clinical cohorts have reported the evolution of IRLs many years after their initial formation, as well as their link to clinical disability or disease progression.

The formation of IRLs is not uniform across MS cohorts so identifying risk factors which predispose individuals to them may provide a useful biomarker for clinical progression. One set of risk factors include genetic variants which prevent some MS patients from resolving the inflammation present at the start of their disease onset. Recent genetic studies of MS are beginning to implicate microglia (inflammatory/immune cells) in MS pathogenesis. Certain genetic variants change the activation states of certain cell populations like microglia and astrocytes which governs their response to CNS damage. It is not known how this genetic variation contributes to the formation, persistence and accrual of IRLs, warranting genotyping studies.

This study relies on the recruitment of participants who received a susceptibility-based brain MRI between 2008-2012, this cohort of patients will be identified to the research team by the clinical team. To minimise inconvenience these patients will be sent a patient information sheet at least 2 weeks ahead of their scheduled annual appointment and will be contacted 2 days before their appointment to confirm whether they are interested in participating. If they agree, they will be asked to attend clinic 45 minutes before their scheduled time so there is sufficient time to meet the research team, discuss any questions and if willing, consent. As this study comprises a cross-sectional genetics component and a longitudinal MRI cohort, patients are able to consent to either/both the provision of blood samples and/or an additional susceptibility-based brain MRI. If the participant consents to provide blood samples they will be taken on the same day and stored in a -80'C freezer. When the total samples being stored reaches the target of 100 participant samples they will be shipped for analysis at Johns Hopkins University in the United States where funding has been secured to perform the genotyping studies. The research team will also collect additional clinical and demographic data from the already available medical records which will be anonymously shared with Johns Hopkins University.

Participants may also consent to receive an MRI as part of the longitudinal MRI cohort component. This will be split into two phases, the first phase has already secured funding for 30 participants to receive an MRI. Of the participants who have consented to receive an MRI, initially 30 will be invited to the Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Center where they will meet a member of the research team and undergo the scan. Additional clinical and demographic information will also be collected at this visit. Following completion of phase 1 and after securing additional funds, more patients who have consented to receive the MRI will be invited to the SPMIC to receive the scan, the exact number of patients will be determined from analysis of the pilot data.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Enrollment: 100
• Est. completion date: September 30, 2022
• Est. primary completion date: June 30, 2022
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 16 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Men and women aged above 16 years

• Clinical diagnosis of MS as per revised McDonald Criteria 2017

• Existing susceptibility-weighted brain MRI scan

• Able to provide blood samples

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unwilling or unable to comply with the requirements of this protocol including the presence of any condition (physical, mental or social) that, in the opinion of the PI, is likely to affect the participants ability to comply with the study protocol.

• Unable to provide informed consent.

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Multiple Sclerosis

Intervention

Biological:
• Blood sample provided
Individuals who consent to provide a blood sample will be included in the cross-sectional genetics study.

Diagnostic Test:
• 7-T MRI scan
Individuals who consent to receive an additional 7-T MRI scan will be invited to the Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre. This current MRI will be compared against the baseline 7-T scan performed between 2008 - 2012.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
n/a

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust	Johns Hopkins University

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Cross-sectional: To identify gene variants or genetic network predictors of chronic perilesional inflammation in patients classified by the presence of rim lesions on brain MRI.	Primary analyses will evaluate the pre-specified set of known MS-risk variants (both major histocompatibility [MH] and non-MH variants) as they relate to rim-lesion formation risk. Secondary unbiased analyses will evaluate novel variants contributing to rim lesion risk.	12 months
Primary	Longitudinal: To assess whether the presence and frequency of iron rim lesions in MS patients is associated with a more severe disability or disease course by comparing clinical and cognitive outcomes.	Comparing changes between baseline and current iron rim lesion presence and count with the changes in clinical disability assessed with EDSS and ARMSS.	9 months
Secondary	Cross-sectional: To integrate genetic risk variant information.	This will involve 1) single-nucleus RNA-seq (snRNA-seq) data from human MS lesions and, 2) genetics studies of microglia and other relevant cell types, to identify candidate transcriptional changes in key CNS cell types.We will leverage unique resources available from ongoing snRNA-seq studies (led by Dr. Absinta) that will allow us to correlate genetic risk variants or networks with activity of different cell types hypothesized to be relevant. Taken together, these analyses will integrate transcriptomic and epi-genomic information from studies of microglia and other relevant cell types to understand potential co-localizing biological signals contributing to rim lesions formation.	12 months
Secondary	Longitudinal: To assess long-term evolution of iron rim presence and frequency from T2* MRI scans of MS patients.	Assess whether iron rim lesions expand or reduce over time.	9 months