[The progress of research on the immune pathogenesis and biomarkers in optic neuritis related to neuromyelitis optica].

The idiopathic optic neuritis (ION) which is related to neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) is called optic neuritis related to neuromyelitis optica (NMO-ON). Because of the high rates of blindness, disability and fatality of NMO, the heterogeneous clinical presentation, severity of neurologic disability following relapses, and variability of therapeutic responses, reliable and sensitive biomarkers for onset, relapse, and progression in NMO are urgently needed. Currently, detecting aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibodies (AQP4-IgG or NMO-IgG) in serum is employed as the major supporting approach for the diagnosis of seropositive NMO, however, AQP4-IgG seronegativity in 10% to 25% of NMO patients suggests that there are several other factors involved in NMO immunopathogenesis. Collaborative international studies hold great promise for establishing and validating biomarkers of NMO. This article discusses known and potential biomarkers for NMO. The biomarkers of NMO maybe the potential biomarkers of NMO-ON, for ION is the initial presentation and the earliest stage. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2019, 55:228-233).