(alpha)B-crystallin in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis.
BACKGROUND
(alpha)B-crystallin is a chaperone protein and a potential myelin antigen to human T cells in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). In this study we investigate the existence of (alpha)B-crystallin in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with clinical symptoms of MS and control individuals without these symptoms, using a newly developed (alpha)B-crystallin specific chicken antibody.


METHODS
A chicken anti-(alpha)B-crystallin was raised against recombinant (alpha)B-crystallin, characterized and used in a semi-quantitative Western blot analysis of CSF from 16 MS patients and 16 neurological patients without MS.


RESULTS
Western blot analysis revealed the presence of high molecular weight (alpha)B-crystallin in CSF. Possibly posttranslationally modified aggregates of (alpha)B-crystallin were found in human astroglioma U373 cells. CSF (alpha)B-crystallin was seen in the CSF in 100% of MS patients and 88% of neurological controls without MS.


CONCLUSIONS
(alpha)B-crystallin is present in the CSF in patients with MS and other neurological controls. Furthermore, (alpha)B-crystallin in CSF and human astroglioma cell line U373 is found in aggregates.
Stoevring
Birgitte
B
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Sector of Microbiology and Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, DK-2300 Copenhagen, Denmark.
Vang
Ole
O
Christiansen
Michael
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000201:enzymology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002645:Chickens; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D038203:alpha-Crystallin B Chain / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*
D038203:alpha-Crystallin B Chain