Key Points:
Only a few tests exist to diagnose amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and the disease mechanisms remain incompletely understood. This paper sought to identify potential biomarkers, or signatures, of ALS in serum or spinal fluid. Specifically, they isolated extracellular vesicles (EVs), small molecular packages carrying biological material released by cells, and characterized their contents. The study found that EVs from people with ALS contained different levels of specific RNA molecules compared to EVs from healthy individuals. Additionally, these RNA molecules from patients with ALS were related to biological pathways controlling nerve health. This provides a possible avenue for better testing and understanding of ALS.
