Specificity of intrathecal IgG synthesis for HTLV-1 core and envelope proteins in HAM/TSP.
BACKGROUND
In patients with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), we investigated the significance of HTLV-1 specific antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).


METHODS
The quantities of HTLV-1 specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) in paired CSF and serum were evaluated by a sensitive enzyme immunoassay (EIA). The specificity of antiviral IgG was determined by radioimmunoprecipitation of HTLV-1 antigens.


RESULTS
In 17 of 20 HAM/TSP patients, quantitative evaluation by EIA supplied evidence for antiviral IgG synthesis within the CNS. Radioimmunoprecipitation demonstrated IgG antibodies against HTLV-1 envelope and core proteins in all HAM/TSP CSF and sera tested. Regarding the 3 sample pairs indeterminate in EIA for intrathecal synthesis, 2 showed stronger precipitation of HTLV-1 antigens by CSF IgG than by equal amounts of serum IgG.


CONCLUSIONS
Intrathecal antibody synthesis specific for both HTLV-1 core and envelope antigens is common in HAM/TSP, thus providing conclusive evidence for an immune response to HTLV-1 within the CNS.
D000918:Antibody Specificity / Q000276:immunology*; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000276:immunology; D001938:Brazil; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D015486:HTLV-I Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D007492:Iran; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D015531:Radioimmunoprecipitation Assay; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies; D015486:HTLV-I Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins