Detection of cerebrospinal fluid antibodies against myelin basic protein in patients with AIDS dementia complex

Mol Chem Neuropathol. 1991 Jun;14(3):227-36. doi: 10.1007/BF03159938.

Abstract

We evaluated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) antibody levels against a lipid-free, denatured form of myelin basic protein (LF-MBP) in 11 patients with AIDS dementia complex (ADC) by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In 9 out of 11 patients, anti-LF-MBP antibody levels were significantly higher than those observed both in 15 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients without neurological disorders and in 9 anti-HIV-negative subjects affected by other neurological diseases. Furthermore, we followed up anti-MBP levels in 5 out of the 11 ADC patients and detected a strict relationship with the encephalopathy progression. At the same time, with the aim to detect early demyelinating events we investigated CSF antibody levels against a lipid-bound, native-like form of MBP (LB-MBP). Results did not show any significant difference between LF-MBP and LB-MBP in terms of antibody reactivity. The detection of anti-MBP antibodies in CSF may provide the opportunity to assess a diagnostic tool for discovering demyelinating lesions in ADC patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • AIDS Dementia Complex / immunology*
  • Antibodies / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Humans
  • Myelin Basic Protein / immunology*
  • Myelin Basic Protein / isolation & purification

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Myelin Basic Protein