Intrathecal synthesis of IgG antibodies to HTLV-I supports an etiological role for HTLV-I in tropical spastic paraparesis.
High titers of antibody to human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) have been reported in the sera and cerebrospinal fluids of patients with tropical spastic paraparesis. By means of agarose isoelectric focusing and selective immunoblotting, we demonstrated oligoclonal bands of immunoglobulin G antibodies to HTLV-I in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with tropical spastic paraparesis. Such cerebrospinal fluid-specific immunoglobulin bands indicate intrathecal synthesis of specific antibodies to HTLV-I. These findings mimic the antibody response to measles virus in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis and support an etiological role for HTLV-I in the pathogenesis of tropical spastic paraparesis.
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D015480:Deltaretrovirus Antibodies; D006800:Deltaretrovirus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000276:immunology; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D043025:Oligoclonal Bands; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000276:immunology*; D014329:Tropical Climate
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015480:Deltaretrovirus Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D043025:Oligoclonal Bands; D012709:Serum Albumin