Changes in DNA methylation are associated with systemic lupus erythematosus flare remission and clinical subtypes.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has numerous symptoms across organs and an unpredictable flare-remittance pattern. This has made it challenging to understand drivers of long-term SLE outcomes. Our objective was to identify whether changes in DNA methylation over time, in an actively flaring SLE cohort, were associated with remission and whether these changes meaningfully subtype SLE patients.

Distinct plasma lipids predict axonal injury and multiple sclerosis activity.

Background: Lipids are of particular interest for the study of neuroinjury and neuroinflammation as structural lipids are major components of myelin, and a variety of lipid species modulate inflammation. In this study, we performed an in-depth lipidomics analysis to identify lipids associated with injury and disease activity.

Methods: Plasma samples were collected from paediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (MS) cases within 4 years of disease onset from 17 sites.

Transgenerational effects of the levonorgestrel-based birth control pill in zebrafish offspring.

The consumption of hormone-derived medicines, such as levonorgestrel (LNG), is increasing worldwide, and its discharge into the environment reaches non-target organisms. In our previous study, we exposed the parental generation of zebrafish to environmentally relevant concentrations of LNG during the developmental phase. Subsequently, they had grown in a tank with clean water until adulthood.

Early Adversity and Socioeconomic Factors in Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis: A Case-Control Study.

Background And Objectives: Psychosocial adversity and stress, known to predispose adults to neurodegenerative and inflammatory immune disorders, are widespread among children who experience socioeconomic disadvantage, and the associated neurotoxicity and proinflammatory profile may predispose these children to multiple sclerosis (MS). We sought to determine associations of socioeconomic disadvantage and psychosocial adversity with odds of pediatric-onset MS (POMS), age at POMS onset, and POMS disease activity.

Methods: This case-control study used data collected across 17 sites in the United States by the Environmental and Genetic Risk Factors for Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Study.