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
2025
Bruton'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 ResearchMultiple 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 biomarkersSynaptic Density in Multiple Sclerosis
Luoma A, Matilainen M, Tuisku J, Aarnio R, Nikkilä T, Laaksonen S, Koivumäki M, Honkonen E, Nylund M, Wahlroos S, Solin O, Chen M, Toyonaga T, Lehto J, Snellman A, Rinne J, Airas L. Synaptic Density in Multiple Sclerosis. Neurology Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation 2025, 12: e200435. PMID: 40609051, PMCID: PMC12227148, DOI: 10.1212/nxi.0000000000200435.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCognitive measuresHealthy controlsSynaptic densityMultiple sclerosisTissue-to-plasma concentration ratioCortical GMPET imagingGray matterSynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2ATissue-to-plasmaChronic inflammatory diseaseLoss in vivoClinically relevant aspectsPET imaging resultsSubcortical regionsCognitive impairmentInflammatory diseasesPathological featuresHistopathological studiesGM pathologyWhite matterNeurodegenerative processesPhysical disabilitySynaptic lossSV2AHemispheric asymmetry of [11C](R)PK11195 binding to translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO) in normal brain.
Alfaifi B, Tuisku J, Matilainen M, Anton-Rodriguez J, Lewis D, Jackson A, Coope D, Airas L, Deakin B, Herholz K, Gerhard A, Hinz R. Hemispheric asymmetry of [11C](R)PK11195 binding to translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO) in normal brain. Cerebrovascular And Brain Metabolism Reviews 2025, 271678x251348790. PMID: 40536168, PMCID: PMC12179115, DOI: 10.1177/0271678x251348790.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTranslocator protein 18 kDaDistribution volume ratioPositron emission tomographyReference tissue input functionTranslocator protein 18 kDa bindingStructural MRI scansTissue input functionBinding to translocator proteinRight hemisphereOccipital cortexHemispheric asymmetryHuman brainHealthy brainRight regionBrainLinear mixed-effects modelsEmission tomographyBinding distributionMixed-effects modelsMRI scansIndependent of ageBrain atlasClinical studiesTranslocator proteinNormal brainPlasma CHI3L1 associates with brain volume loss and glial activation in multiple sclerosis
Ahola V, Saraste M, Nylund M, Matilainen M, Luoma A, Vuorimaa A, Lehto J, Laaksonen S, Brockmann E, Kuhle J, Leppert D, Soukka T, Lamminmäki U, Airas L. Plasma CHI3L1 associates with brain volume loss and glial activation in multiple sclerosis. Journal Of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry 2025, jnnp-2025-336063. PMID: 40379482, DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2025-336063.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDistribution volume ratioBrain volume lossHealthy controlsPositron emission tomographyPlasma CHI3L1Smoldering inflammationMultiple sclerosisGlial activationInnate immune cell activationAssociated with Expanded Disability Status ScaleImmune cell activationChitinase-3-like protein 1Expanded Disability Status ScaleAssociated with smaller brain volumesDisability Status ScaleCHI3L1 concentrationsIndependent of relapsesVolume lossStudy cohortCell activationImaging outcomesTSPO-PETCHI3L1Emission tomographyStatus ScaleThe role of microglia in multiple sclerosis: implications for treatment with Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitors
Vermersch P, Airas L, Berger T, Deisenhammer F, Grigoriadis N, Hartung H, Magyari M, Popescu V, Pozzilli C, Pugliatti M, Van Wijmeersch B, Zakaria M, Oreja-Guevara C. The role of microglia in multiple sclerosis: implications for treatment with Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Frontiers In Immunology 2025, 16: 1495529. PMID: 40443664, PMCID: PMC12119304, DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1495529.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBruton tyrosine kinase inhibitorCentral nervous systemTyrosine kinase inhibitorsBruton's tyrosine kinaseMagnetic resonance imagingPositron emission tomographyMultiple sclerosisMicroglial functionPrimary resident immune cellsTissue repairNeural homeostasisPathogenesis of MSPathophysiology of MSResident immune cellsChronic autoimmune diseaseCentral nervous system developmentInvolvement of microgliaPotential therapeutic strategyModulating microglial functionDisease progression rateImmune surveillanceImprove patient outcomesImmune cellsAutoimmune diseasesProgressive MSBroad rim lesions are a new pathological and imaging biomarker for rapid disease progression in multiple sclerosis
Klotz L, Smolders J, Lehto J, Matilainen M, Lütje L, Buchholz L, Albrecht S, Walter C, Varghese J, Wiendl H, Nylund M, Thomas C, Gardberg M, van den Bosch A, Airas L, Huitinga I, Kuhlmann T. Broad rim lesions are a new pathological and imaging biomarker for rapid disease progression in multiple sclerosis. Nature Medicine 2025, 31: 2016-2026. PMID: 40301560, PMCID: PMC12176629, DOI: 10.1038/s41591-025-03625-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDisease progressionMultiple sclerosisRim lesionsLesion typeInnate immune activationCurrent multiple sclerosisPositron emission tomography studiesInflammatory cytokine productionEmission tomography studiesRelapse activityPatient selectionImmune activationIntrinsic inflammationCytokine productionRapid progressionMS progressionMS lesion typesImaging biomarkersLesionsUnfolded protein responseTranscriptional signatureDiseaseTomography studiesProtein responseCell rimMicroglia positron emission tomography and progression in multiple sclerosis: thalamus on fire
Zeydan B, Neyal N, Son J, Schwarz C, Thomas J, Morrison H, Bush M, Reid R, Przybelski S, Fought A, Jack C, Petersen R, Kantarci K, Lowe V, Airas L, Kantarci O. Microglia positron emission tomography and progression in multiple sclerosis: thalamus on fire. Brain Communications 2025, 7: fcaf141. PMID: 40322777, PMCID: PMC12046125, DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcaf141.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchProgressive multiple sclerosisRelapsing Multiple SclerosisPET uptakeMultiple sclerosisThalamic lesionsMicroglia densityMean diffusivityPaced Auditory Serial Addition Test scoresMultiple Sclerosis Functional Composite scoreClinical disease severityNeurite density indexBiomarkers of progressionAssociated with imaging biomarkersPositron emission tomographyGlobal disease burdenTranslocator protein PETOrientation dispersion indexDisease characteristicsPatientsEfficacy evaluationImaging biomarkersCorpus callosumEmission tomographyDisease severityThalamusGenerics, Biosimilars and Follow‐On Non‐Biologic Complex Drugs for Multiple Sclerosis: A Narrative Review of the Regulatory and Clinical Implications for European Neurologists
Berger T, Zeitlinger M, Popescu V, Magyari M, Airas L, Alkhawajah M, Pugliatti M, Zakaria M, Pozzilli C, Drulovic J, Van Wijmeersch B, Vermersch P, Oreja‐Guevara C. Generics, Biosimilars and Follow‐On Non‐Biologic Complex Drugs for Multiple Sclerosis: A Narrative Review of the Regulatory and Clinical Implications for European Neurologists. European Journal Of Neurology 2025, 32: e70140. PMID: 40231751, PMCID: PMC11998027, DOI: 10.1111/ene.70140.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDisease-modifying treatmentsNon-biological complex drugsImprove patient accessLiterature searchMultiple sclerosisMS careHealthcare systemPatient accessComplex drugsPubMed literature searchSocioeconomic burdenNarrative reviewTolerability profileGlatiramer acetateClinical efficacyClinical studiesEarly onsetEuropean neurologistsClinical implicationsProgressive natureDrugSclerosisOriginal drugPeopleCareIntegrating TSPO-PET imaging with metabolomics for enhanced prognostic accuracy in multiple sclerosis
Radford-Smith D, Yates A, Kacerova T, Nylund M, Sucksdorff M, Matilainen M, Willemse E, Oechtering J, Maceski A, Leppert D, Kuhle J, Probert F, Anthony D, Airas L. Integrating TSPO-PET imaging with metabolomics for enhanced prognostic accuracy in multiple sclerosis. BMJ Neurology Open 2025, 7: e001026. PMID: 40248672, PMCID: PMC12004482, DOI: 10.1136/bmjno-2025-001026.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSecondary progressive MSDisease progressionPET imagingMultiple sclerosisNuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomicsTSPO PET imagingTSPO-PETTSPO imagingMRI-visible lesionsNormal-appearing white matterPrediction of disease progressionPredicting disease progressionClinical trial stratificationSerum metabolite analysisTSPO availabilitySerum metabolomeNMR analysisPrognostic accuracyC-PK11195Progressive MSRelapsing-remittingTreatment strategiesIndependent cohortMetabolites glutamateMS patients
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