title: Intrathecal humoral immune response in HAM/TSP in relation to HLA haplotype analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), we correlated human leukocyte antigen (HLA) haplotypes to the fine specificities of intrathecally synthesized IgG antibodies against HTLV-1.
  
  
  METHODS
  HLA haplotypes of HAM/TSP patients were determined by the standard NIH microcytotoxicity test and family HLA studies. IgG antibodies against HTLV-1 synthetic peptides in paired CSF and serum were measured by enzyme immunoassay, and intrathecal synthesis of antibodies was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HAM/TSP patients with particular HLA haplotypes (A24Cw7B7DR1DQ5, A2Cw7B7DR1DQ5, A24Cw-B52DR15DQ6, A11Cw1B54DR4DQ4, and A24Cw1B54DR4DQ4) showed more frequently intrathecal synthesis of antibodies against HTLV-1 synthetic peptides, especially against HTLV-1 env gp21 synthetic peptides.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In HAM/TSP, a retrovirus-induced human chronic inflammatory disease of the CNS, this is the first report to provide evidence that the intrathecal antiviral immune response is influenced by immunogenetic factors of the HLA complex.
authors.affiliation: Center for Chronic Viral Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University, Japan.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kitze
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Usuku
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yashiki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ijichi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujiyoshi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Izumo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Osame
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sonoda
mesh_terms: D000917:Antibody Formation; D006680:HLA Antigens; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G