title: Lack of both spinal fluid oligoclonal bands and complement 4A protein in an MS patient.
abstract: We report the case of a multiple sclerosis (MS) patient without oligoclonal bands (OCB) in three cerebrospinal fluid samples. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of Class 3 genes with radiolabelled specific cDNA probes showed a homozygous deletion of the complement 4A (C4A) genes. Consequent lack of C4A protein can alter the development of humoral immune response probably preventing OCB production. Our observation may suggest a link between a rare immunogenetic pattern and the absence of OCB in MS.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Neurochemistry, IRCCS, Neurological Institute C. Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Franciotta
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Piccolo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cuccia
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bergamaschi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zardini
authors.forename: G V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Melzi d'Eril
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dondi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cosi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D015934:Complement C4a / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000235:genetics; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006239:Haplotypes; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000235:genetics; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D043025:Oligoclonal Bands
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D043025:Oligoclonal Bands; D015934:Complement C4a