Antibodies reacting with cytoplasm of subthalamic and caudate nuclei neurons in chorea and acute rheumatic fever.
46% of sera from 30 children with rheumatic chorea showed IgG antibody reacting with neuronal cytoplasm of human caudate and subthalamic nuclei. The antibody was also detected in 14% of 50 children with active rheumatic carditis. 55 normal control sera, as well as 148 sera from a broad variety of other disease states showed a low prevalence (1.8-4.0%) of positive reactions. In rheumatic chorea the presence of anti-neuronal antibody appeared to correlate with severity and duration of clinical attacks. Antibody reacting with neuronal cytoplasm was completely removed by absorption with Group A streptococcal membranes or with isolated human neurons from caudate nucleus. Partial absorption of antibody was also recorded using Group A cell wall preparations but not with Group A carbohydrate. No absorption of positive reactions was seen with streptococcal Group D membranes or cell walls. In rheumatic chorea, anti-neuronal antibody appeared to represent cross-reaction with antigens shared by Group A streptococcal membranes.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D002421:Caudate Nucleus / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002819:Chorea / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012213:Rheumatic Fever / Q000276:immunology*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000276:immunology; D013787:Thalamic Nuclei / Q000276:immunology*
D000906:Antibodies; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G