# Imaging retinal leukocyte-endothelial interaction as a diagnostic marker for multiple sclerosis

> **NIH NIH R01** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 2021 · $413,280

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
In multiple sclerosis (MS), the most common neurological disease in the working young, inflammatory cells
infiltrate the central nervous system (CNS) and attack the myelin-producing cells that are crucial for function
and survival of axons. Most patients experience a relapsing-remitting disease course with ever worsening
neurological symptoms and, ultimately, disability. Current diagnostic imaging techniques cannot predict
relapses because they cannot detect the active leukocyte infiltration into the CNS that leads to clinical disease
symptoms downstream. This proposal intends to provide a method that enables non-invasive assessment of
this asymptomatic disease activity based on the detection of leukocyte-endothelial interaction (LEI) in the retina
by live imaging, which will allow prediction of MS relapses and rapid feedback on treatment response and
disease progression. Thus, retinal LEI detection could help transform therapeutic intervention in MS and
mitigate the development and severity of disability in MS.
LEI, the rolling of white blood cells that is a requirement for leukocyte infiltration, is absent in healthy CNS and
considered a hallmark of inflammation. We hypothesize that retinal LEI near the optic nerve head (ONH)
indicates active leukocyte infiltration into the CNS that precedes MRI detectable lesions and clinical
disease symptoms. The retina is an optically accessible compartment of the CNS that lends itself to optical,
intravital imaging through the pupil of the eye. With a scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO), custom built for
mouse retinal imaging, retinal LEI was detected in early stages of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
(EAE), an accepted rodent model of MS, prior to clinical symptoms. Our preliminary data further demonstrated,
that pro-inflammatory messengers can reach the retina via transport of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and cause
retinal LEI, although the retina and optic nerve themselves are not inflamed.
In aim 1, we will characterize retinal LEI in EAE and compare its time course to that of leukocyte infiltration into
the CNS, as assessed by flow cytometric analysis, and to development of CNS lesions by MRI. Treatment will
be administered upon LEI detection and the disease time course compared with untreated controls.
In aim 2, we will assess the sensitivity of retinal LEI to remotely detect CNS inflammation. We determine if the
location of an inflammatory brain lesion affects the frequency of retinal LEI. Furthermore, MS-relevant
cytokines will be injected directly into the CSF to test their ability to elicit retinal LEI.
In aim 3, we will develop an adaptive optics (AO) SLO that is specialized for the detection of retinal LEI. Using
high-speed scanning and a woofer-tweeter AO architecture, the instrument will generate a field of view that
probes the area in and near the optic nerve head, where most LEI would be expected. This cutting-edge
instrument will be used in a pilot study to assess ret...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9975233
- **Project number:** 5R01NS099431-04
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Clemens Alt
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $413,280
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-08-15 → 2022-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9975233

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9975233, Imaging retinal leukocyte-endothelial interaction as a diagnostic marker for multiple sclerosis (5R01NS099431-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9975233. Licensed CC0.

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