ePoster Presentation 49th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology 2021

Exploring the utility of MOG antibody epitopes in predicting a relapsing disease course (#223)

Ganesha Liyanage 1 2 , Fiona Tea 1 , Joseph A. Lopez 1 3 , Alicia Zou 3 , Vera Merheb 1 , Fiona Lee 1 , Sudarshini Ramanathan 1 , Russell Dale 1 , Fabienne Brilot 1 2 3
  1. Brain Autoimmunity Group, Kids Research, Sydney, NSW, 2146
  2. Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  3. Specialty of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Background: Autoantibodies against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) have been used to define a novel class of CNS demyelinating disorders. In adults, these disorders mainly affect the optic nerve and spinal cord, with approximately 50% of patients relapsing. Currently, there is no method of predicting relapse. Objective: We aimed to identify the prognostic utility of two key MOG antibody epitopes, Proline42 (P42) and Histidine103/Serine104 (H103/S104), in predicting a relapsing disease course. Methods: A flow cytometry live cell-based assay was utilised to determine the level of antibody binding to wild-type MOG as well as two mutants of MOG, P42S and H103A/S104E, in 306 MOG antibody-positive adults. Clinical information including lesion localisation and disease course were collected from 177 of these patients. Results: Of the patients who bound to a non-P42 epitope, 72% exhibited a relapsing disease course. This was enriched in patients with unilateral optic neuritis (UON), where 94% of non-P42 patients relapsed. This is notable as UON patients account for a third of patients with a relapsing course in our cohort. In contrast, preliminary evidence suggests that for patients with transverse myelitis, a non-H103/S104 epitope may help predict a relapsing course. Conclusion: Our research supports the prognostic utility of MOG antibody epitopes in predicting a relapsing course, which will enable clinicians to modify treatment in susceptible patients.