Specificity of human anti-neurofilament autoantibodies.
The specificities and isotypes of human antibodies that react with neurofilament (NF) proteins were examined by Western blot analysis. Two-thirds of the subjects tested had antibodies to the 200 kDa high molecular weight neurofilament protein (NF-H), and fewer had antibodies to the low and middle molecular weight neurofilament proteins (NF-L and NF-M respectively). Human autoantibodies bound to both native and dephosphorylated NF-H, but some antibodies bound to dephosphorylated NF-H only, indicating the presence of at least two target epitopes. They also recognized a fusion protein containing a segment of the NF-H protein produced by a cDNA clone in Escherichia coli, indicating that they bind to unmodified peptide epitopes. The anti-NF-H antibodies were mostly IgG, but were frequently complexed to IgA or IgM antibodies, possibly with rheumatoid factor or anti-idiotypic activity. These characteristics of anti-NF-H antibodies are most consistent with a secondary immune response that is antigen driven and T-cell dependent.
Braxton
D B
DB
Department of Neurology, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032.
Williams
M
M
Kamali
D
D
Chin
S
S
Liem
R
R
Latov
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000276:immunology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007382:Intermediate Filaments / Q000276:immunology*; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis
D001323:Autoantibodies; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins