Western blot analysis for the detection of serum antibodies recognizing linear Aquaporin-4 epitopes in patients with Neuromyelitis Optica.
The current study presents a western blot assay showing good sensitivity (81%) and specificity (97%) for detecting serum antibodies to Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) in patients with Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO). By using western blot, we were able, for the first time, to distinguish serum immunoreactivity against either of the two AQP4 isoforms, showing that antibodies recognizing the linear AQP4-M1 isoform are specific for NMO. Moreover, the high sensitivity and specificity of the western blot assay in detecting serum anti-AQP4 antibodies in NMO patients suggest that such auto-antibodies may be of linear nature, thus recognizing epitopes that are displayed in denatured protein.
Marnetto
Fabiana
F
SCDO: Neurologia 2, Centro Sclerosi Multipla (CReSM), AOU S. Luigi Gonzaga, Orbassano, Torino, Italy. neurobiologia@sanluigi.piemonte.it
Hellias
Bianca
B
Granieri
Letizia
L
Frau
Jessica
J
Patanella
Agata Katia
AK
Nytrova
Petra
P
Sala
Arianna
A
Capobianco
Marco
M
Gilli
Francesca
F
Bertolotto
Antonio
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D051401:Aquaporin 4 / Q000276:immunology*; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D018604:Epitope Mapping / Q000379:methods; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D047468:Immunoprecipitation / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000097:blood*; D040081:Protein Array Analysis / Q000379:methods; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000276:immunology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
C496030:AQP4 protein, human; D000906:Antibodies; D051401:Aquaporin 4; D000939:Epitopes; D020033:Protein Isoforms