To investigate whether cervical lymph nodes (CLNs) can serve as a site for measuring neurodegenerative biomarkers in humans, particularly in relation to brain clearance and lymphatic drainage, and to assess the implications for clinical practice.
Key Findings:
All biomarkers were detected in plasma and CLN samples, except neurofilament light in some cases, with statistical significance noted.
CLN biomarker concentrations were significantly higher than plasma concentrations for all except neurofilament light, especially for pTau181 (266-fold increase, P < 0.02).
CLN concentrations of pTau181 decreased with age, indicating a potential age-related trend.
Interpretation:
The study provides the first evidence that neurodegenerative biomarkers can be detected in human CLNs, suggesting that CLNs may serve as a minimally invasive site for assessing brain clearance and lymphatic drainage, with implications for future research and clinical applications.
Limitations:
The study's sample size was small, particularly for the discovery cohort, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
The findings may not be generalizable beyond the studied populations, and potential biases in sample selection should be considered.
Conclusion:
Sampling from CLNs could enhance our understanding of neurodegenerative processes and offer a complementary approach to existing methods for assessing brain biomarker levels, potentially impacting future clinical practices.
by Adam Al-Diwani, Nicholas M Provine, Andrew Murchison, Rhiannon Laban, Owen J Swann, Ivan Koychev, Fintan Sheerin, Sandro Da Mesquita, Amanda Heslegrave, Henrik Zetterberg, Paul Klenerman, Sarosh R Irani
