Large-scale proteomics across neurological disorders uncovers biomarker panel and targets in multiple sclerosis.

Abstract

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is central to neurological diagnostics, yet biomarkers are lacking for many clinical needs. To enable its large-scale proteomic characterization, we developed a high-throughput mass spectrometry workflow quantifying approximately 1,500 proteins per CSF sample across 5,000 individuals, covering a spectrum of neurological disorders. This revealed proteomic alterations associated with blood-CSF barrier impairment, age, and sex, enabling deconvolution of shared and disease-specific signatures. We then focused on multiple sclerosis (MS), using an improved analytical technology that quantified 2,100 proteins per sample. From these data, we derived a 22-protein panel that distinguished MS from related inflammatory diseases and outperformed established markers in challenging cases. A targeted mass spectrometry assay using isotope-labeled standards validated this panel in an independent cohort, offering a clinically compatible format. Additionally, we highlight proteins of therapeutic interest and demonstrate proteome-based staging of individuals along the relapsing-progressive MS spectrum, which correlates with clinical outcomes.