Antibodies to neural and non-neural autoantigens in Japanese patients with CNS demyelinating disorders

J Neuroimmunol. 2014 Sep 15;274(1-2):155-60. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2014.06.020. Epub 2014 Jun 27.

Abstract

Anti-aquaporin 4 (AQP4) antibodies (Abs) are essential in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), but the relationship between CNS demyelinating disorders (CNSDD) and other neural Abs remains unclear. Here we screened anti-neural Abs in the sera of 70 Japanese CNSDD patients. While two had only demyelinating events among three anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) Ab-positive subjects, the other subject who also had anti-AQP4 Abs experienced episodes of anti-NMDAR encephalitis and of NMOSD. Major lesions in the three anti-contactin-associated protein 2 Ab-positive subjects were infratentorial, including one co-carrying anti-AQP4 Abs. Thus, autoantibodies can be clinically silent, but multiple autoantibodies may participate in the pathogenesis.

Keywords: Aquaporin 4; Autoantibodies; CNS demyelinating disorders; Contactin-associated protein 2; Multiple sclerosis; Neuromyelitis optica.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aquaporin 4 / immunology*
  • Asian People*
  • Autoantibodies / immunology
  • Autoantigens / immunology*
  • Encephalitis / ethnology
  • Encephalitis / immunology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / immunology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis / ethnology
  • Multiple Sclerosis / immunology*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / immunology*
  • Neuromyelitis Optica / ethnology
  • Neuromyelitis Optica / immunology*
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / immunology

Substances

  • AQP4 protein, human
  • Aquaporin 4
  • Autoantibodies
  • Autoantigens
  • CNTNAP2 protein, human
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate