Adjunct Faculty
Adjunct faculty typically have an academic or research appointment at another institution and contribute or collaborate with one or more School of Medicine faculty members or programs.
Adjunct rank detailsLaura Airas
Research
Publications
2026
SV2A PET reveals synaptic density loss in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and in a pilot multiple sclerosis study
Chia P, Toyonaga T, Tong J, Le H, Dias M, Boyle A, Raymond R, Longbrake E, Huang Y, Carson R, Airas L, Vasdev N, Chen M, Zheng C. SV2A PET reveals synaptic density loss in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and in a pilot multiple sclerosis study. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2026, 123: e2517709123. PMID: 41774796, PMCID: PMC12974510, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2517709123.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsExperimental autoimmune encephalomyelitisMultiple sclerosisAutoimmune encephalomyelitisPET imagingSpinal cordExperimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis miceAge-matched healthy controlsQuantitative biomarkersLumbar spinal cordRegional distribution volumesDensity in vivoCross-species validationSynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2APET findingsTracer uptakeSV2A bindingSynaptic pathologyHealthy controlsDisease progressionMouse modelMS patientsPathological featuresDistribution volumeMultiple Sclerosis StudySV2A levelsCorrection: Longitudinal accumulation of glial activation measured by TSPO-PET predicts later brain atrophy in multiple sclerosis
Nylund M, Lehto J, Matilainen M, Rajander J, Wahlroos S, Sucksdorff M, Kuhlmann T, Airas L. Correction: Longitudinal accumulation of glial activation measured by TSPO-PET predicts later brain atrophy in multiple sclerosis. Journal Of Neuroinflammation 2026, 23: 46. PMID: 41630005, PMCID: PMC12862898, DOI: 10.1186/s12974-026-03700-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchReal-world detection of paramagnetic rim lesions and their association with disease burden in multiple sclerosis
Misin O, Piispanen A, Matilainen M, Parkkola R, Nyman M, Sainio T, Hirvonen J, Airas L. Real-world detection of paramagnetic rim lesions and their association with disease burden in multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis And Related Disorders 2026, 107: 107012. PMID: 41564463, DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2026.107012.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsParamagnetic rim lesionsMultiple Sclerosis Severity ScoreExpanded Disability Status ScaleSusceptibility-weighted imagingMultiple sclerosisRim lesionsManual chart reviewUniversity HospitalElectronic medical recordsAssociated with disease burdenT2 lesion volumeTertiary university hospitalIron-laden macrophagesT1-weighted imagesDisability Status ScaleSmoldering inflammationDisease burdenChart reviewParaclinical parametersLaboratory variablesMedical recordsStatus ScaleMS-relatedPatient managementLesion volume
2025
Towards a neuroimaging consensus for the workup of adult genetic leukoencephalopathies on behalf of the White Matter Rounds Network: State of Practice.
Wong A, Airas L, Alvarez E, Antel J, Araujo D, Bernard G, Boudjani H, Brais B, Cocozza S, Corboy J, Fadda G, Imitola J, Lacasse M, Longbrake E, Macaron G, Narayanan S, Orthmann-Murphy J, Ortiz Jimenez J, Shor N, Uggetti C, Venkateswaran S, Wilson N, Miller E, La Piana R. Towards a neuroimaging consensus for the workup of adult genetic leukoencephalopathies on behalf of the White Matter Rounds Network: State of Practice. American Journal Of Neuroradiology 2025, ajnr.a9127. PMID: 41371978, DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a9127.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSpine imagingModified Delphi MethodDelphi roundsRadiological evidenceSagittal planeGenetic leukoencephalopathiesDifferential diagnosisThoracic spine imagesContrast-enhanced T1 sequencesDelphi methodWorking diagnosisWM diseaseAdvanced imaging techniquesAxial T2Head CTImaging workupMR spine imagesStandard protocolT1 sequencesMicroglia from patients with multiple sclerosis display a cell-autonomous immune activation state
Hyvärinen T, Tilvis J, Giudice L, Tujula I, Nylund M, Ohtonen S, Scoyni F, Jäntti H, Virtanen L, Pihlava S, Kattelus R, Skottman H, Narkilahti S, Airas L, Malm T, Hagman S. Microglia from patients with multiple sclerosis display a cell-autonomous immune activation state. Journal Of Neuroinflammation 2025, 22: 255. PMID: 41174786, PMCID: PMC12577231, DOI: 10.1186/s12974-025-03575-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMultiple sclerosisAntigen presentationInnate immune cell activationMicroglial activation in vitroMicroglial cell typeSustained activation of microgliaModulation of cytokine secretionImmune cell activationDisease-specific iPSCsImmune activation stateSeverity of multiple sclerosisPluripotent stem cellsPositron emission tomography imagingActivation of microgliaRegulation of inflammationMicroglia-like cellsEmission Tomography ImagingImmune receptor activationSustained activationCytokine secretionIntrinsic alterationsHealthy controlsReceptor activationCell activationMicroglial activationVentricular Volume as the most Informative Biomarker of TSPO-PET Binding Status in Multiple Sclerosis Patients
Baldrighi G, Matilainen M, Saraste M, Airas L. Ventricular Volume as the most Informative Biomarker of TSPO-PET Binding Status in Multiple Sclerosis Patients. Epidemiology Biostatistics And Public Health 2025 DOI: 10.54103/2282-0930/29290.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTSPO-PETSmoldering inflammationMicroglial activationMS patientsGlial activationPET imagingGlial activation in vivoMultiple sclerosisPhase 3 trialClinical trial purposesIdentification of patientsT Magnetic Resonance ImagingMicroglia-targeted therapiesMultiple sclerosis patientsParenchymal fractionPMS patientsEnlarged ventriclesVentricle sizeInflammatory profileMRI-derived featuresPatient stratificationVentricular volumeActivity in vivoMS subtypesTSPO bindingLongitudinal accumulation of glial activation measured by TSPO-PET predicts later brain atrophy in multiple sclerosis
Nylund M, Lehto J, Matilainen M, Rajander J, Wahlroos S, Sucksdorff M, Kuhlmann T, Airas L. Longitudinal accumulation of glial activation measured by TSPO-PET predicts later brain atrophy in multiple sclerosis. Journal Of Neuroinflammation 2025, 22: 200. PMID: 40775641, PMCID: PMC12333212, DOI: 10.1186/s12974-025-03519-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOne-year follow-upExpanded Disability Status ScaleFollow-upGlial activationPositron emission tomographyMultiple sclerosisDistribution volume ratioRRMS patientsDisease progressionMS patientsTSPO-PETDevelopment of brain atrophyTSPO uptakeBaseline body-mass indexGlial activation in vivoUntreated MS patientsFollow-up scansBrain atrophyAccumulation of disabilityProportion of lesionsTranslocator proteinDisability Status ScaleBody-mass indexActivated voxelsActivated glial cellsBruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors for multiple sclerosis
Airas L. Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors for multiple sclerosis. The Lancet Neurology 2025, 24: 627-628. PMID: 40683260, DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(25)00238-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSerum glial fibrillary acid protein associates with TSPO-expressing lesions in multiple sclerosis brain
Sjöros T, Saraste M, Matilainen M, Nylund M, Koivumäki M, Kuhle J, Leppert D, Airas L. Serum glial fibrillary acid protein associates with TSPO-expressing lesions in multiple sclerosis brain. Therapeutic Advances In Neurological Disorders 2025, 18: 17562864251352998. PMID: 40756531, PMCID: PMC12314351, DOI: 10.1177/17562864251352998.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSerum glial fibrillary acidic proteinPositron emission tomographyGlial fibrillary acidic proteinFibrillary acidic proteinMultiple sclerosisSerum glial fibrillary acidic protein levelsResonance imagingNormal-appearing white matterTranslocator protein activationT2 lesion loadTranslocator proteinRelapsing-remitting MSAcidic proteinWhite matter lesionsCentral nervous systemMagnetic resonance imagingSGFAP levelsPositron emission tomography ligandsCortical gray matterSoluble biomarkersMultiple sclerosis brainProgressive MSHealthy controlsDisease progressionGlial activationMultiple sclerosis: 2024 update
Klotz L, Saraste M, Airas L, Kuhlmann T. Multiple sclerosis: 2024 update. Free Neuropathology 2025, 6: 14. PMID: 40636815, PMCID: PMC12238822, DOI: 10.17879/freeneuropathology-2025-6762.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEpstein-Barr virusMultiple sclerosisCAR-T cell therapyT-cell therapyComplex immune-mediated diseaseImmune-mediated diseasesMS disease progressionAdvanced imaging techniquesTreatment strategiesFocal inflammationDisease progressionMS progressionNeurological disabilityPersonalized treatmentDiagnostic criteriaDiagnostic specificityTherapeutic developmentDisease monitoringMRI markersCriteria revisionImaging techniquesBiomarkersGenetic discoveriesDiseaseFluid biomarkers
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