Measles virus-specific plasma cells are prominent in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis CSF.
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the specificity of expanded CD138(+) plasma cell clones recovered from the CSF of a patient with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) for measles virus (MV).


METHODS
IgG variable region sequences of single-antibody-secreting CD138(+) cells sorted from SSPE CSF were amplified by single-cell PCR and analyzed. Human IgG1 recombinant antibodies (rAbs) were produced from four expanded CD138(+) clones and assayed for immunoreactivity against MV proteins.


RESULTS
Clonal expansion was a prominent feature of the SSPE plasma cell repertoire, and each of the four rAbs assayed was specific for either the MV fusion or the MV nucleocapsid protein.


CONCLUSIONS
Expanded plasma cell clones in the CSF of patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis produce disease-relevant antibodies. Recombinant antibodies derived from CSF B cells could provide a tool to identify target antigens in idiopathic inflammatory disorders.
Owens
G P
GP
Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO 80262, USA. greg.owens@uchsc.edu
Ritchie
A M
AM
Gilden
D H
DH
Burgoon
M P
MP
Becker
D
D
Bennett
J L
JL
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000276:immunology; D000918:Antibody Specificity / Q000276:immunology; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology*; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000276:immunology; D013344:Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins