Neurofilaments: A Biomarker for Axonal Degeneration

2 Definitions  Neurofilaments: Nf are proteins which are exclusively expressed in neurons and their adjacent axons. Nf are particularly abundant in the axon, where they are key building blocks of the axonal cytoskeleton. The complex protein chemistry of Nf is briefly described.  Biomarker: A biomarker is a characteristic that is objectively measured and evaluated as an indicator of normal biologic processes, pathogenic processes, or pharmacological responses to therapeutic intervention.  Surrogate endpoint : defines a biomarker that is intended to serve as a substitute of a clinically meaningful endpoint and is expected to predict the effect of a therapeutic intervention or the evolution of disease.