Peculiar labeling of cultured hippocampal neurons by different sera harboring anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies (GAD-Ab).
Immunological derangement is assumed to be present in a subgroup of patients affected by drug-resistant epilepsy with serum harboring anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies (GAD-Ab). To further investigate the specific reactivity of GAD-Ab with target cells, we tested sera from drug-resistant epileptics harboring GAD-Ab on cultured fetal rat hippocampal neurons. As a control, we tested sera from GAD-Ab-negative epileptics and GAD-Ab-positive patients affected by Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS), ataxia or diabetes. A specific pattern of reactivity, varying according to disease, was detected on application of sera from GAD-Ab-positive patients with epilepsy, SPS and ataxia, but no specific labeling was found on application of sera from patients with GAD-Ab-negative epilepsy or from GAD-Ab-positive diabetic controls.
Vianello
Marika
M
Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology, Section of Physiology, Via Marzolo 3, 35131 Padova, Italy. marikavianello@libero.it
Giometto
Bruno
B
Vassanelli
Stefano
S
Canato
Marta
M
Betterle
Corrado
C
Mucignat
Carla
C
D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique / Q000379:methods; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
D001323:Autoantibodies; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase