Investigating Immune Cell Signatures in Multiple Sclerosis Progression: Stephanie Zandee, PhD

WATCH TIME: 4 minutes

“If certain immune cell signatures do indeed seem to correlate with [patients] worsening faster, the hope is that in the future, we can link this back to different therapies.”

Researchers are investigating how immune cell protein signatures correlate with multiple sclerosis (MS) progression, aiming to refine disease monitoring and treatment strategies. By analyzing immune cell changes in patients across different MS subtypes including relapsing-remitting (RRMS), secondary progressive (SPMS), and primary progressive (PPMS), investigators hope to identify biomarkers that signal worsening disease. Early findings from studies suggest that specific immune signatures may not only predict disease acceleration but also provide insights into treatment response, emphasizing the need for broader validation across diverse populations.¹

Advancements in this area were a key focus of session titled “Connecting Data to the Clinic Using Machine Learning” at the 2025 Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) Forum, held February 27 to March 1, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Chaired by Michael Dwyer, PhD, and Darin Okuda, MD, the session explored how machine learning is transforming MS research by enhancing our understanding of disease pathology, progression, and clinical heterogeneity. The session featured 3 expert presentations: Stephanie Zandee, PhD, on immune cell protein signatures in MS progression; Taki Shinohara, PhD, on machine learning applications in MS imaging; and a debate on the existence of MS subtypes between Heinz Wiendl, MD, and Kathryn Fitzgerald, ScD.²

As part of this discussion, Zandee, an assistant professor of neuroimmunology at McGill University, presented her research on “Linking MS Immune Cell Protein Signature With Clinical Progression.”³ Following her presentation, she sat down with NeurologyLive^® to delve deeper into the clinical implications of immune cell signatures in MS. She addressed key questions surrounding their integration into clinical decision-making, the challenges of expanding flow cytometry for routine patient monitoring, and the importance of validating findings across different populations to ensure broad applicability.

Click here for coverage of 2025 ACTRIMS Forum.

REFERENCES
1. Didonna A, Cekanaviciute E, Oksenberg JR, Baranzini SE. Immune cell-specific transcriptional profiling highlights distinct molecular pathways controlled by Tob1 upon experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Sci Rep. 2016;6:31603. Published 2016 Aug 22. doi:10.1038/srep31603
2. Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS). Program Agenda. Accessed February 27, 2025. https://forum.actrims.org/program
3. Zandee S. Linking MS Immune Cell Protein Signature With Clinical Progression. Presented at ACTRIMS Forum 2025; February 27 to March 1; West Palm Beach, Florida. S5.1