title: Antibody in the CSF of patients with multiple system atrophy reacts specifically with rat locus ceruleus.
abstract: Idiopathic chronic autonomic dysfunction may occur as pure autonomic failure (PAF) or in association with multiple system atrophy (MSA). CSF immunoreactivity to rat locus ceruleus occurred in a significantly greater number of samples from MSA patients compared to control subjects or patients with PAF. Other brain regions infrequently showed immunoreactivity. These findings suggest that degeneration in MSA may release antigen(s) that induce antibodies against locus ceruleus neurons. Further studies are required to determine whether immune abnormalities play a pathogenetic role in MSA. Lack of CSF immunoreactivity in PAF is consistent with primarily peripheral involvement.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Neuropharmacology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Polinsky
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McRae
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Baser
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dahlström
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001284:Atrophy; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000276:immunology; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000276:immunology*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D006801:Humans; D008125:Locus Coeruleus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000276:immunology*; D009849:Olivopontocerebellar Atrophies / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012688:Septum Pellucidum / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D013045:Species Specificity; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D013681:Tegmentum Mesencephali / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies