title: Analysis of antibodies to surface epitopes of contactin-2 in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Contactin-2 was recently identified as an autoantigen targeted by T-cells and autoantibodies in multiple sclerosis (MS). Here we analyzed the frequency of antibodies to contactin-2 (contactin-2-ab) by a cell-based assay in the serum from 105 MS patients and at least 5 years of follow-up (19 clinically isolated syndromes, 51 relapsing-remitting, 20 secondary-progressive, and 15 primary-progressive). Contactin-2-ab were detected in 4 (7.8%) relapsing-remitting patients. Clinical and magnetic resonance imaging characteristics were not significantly different from the rest of relapsing-remitting patients. In conclusion, contactin-2-ab are identified in a minority of MS patients but their presence is not associated with a particular clinical-radiological profile.
authors.affiliation: Center for Neuroimmunology, Service of Neurology, Hospital Clinic and Institut d' Investigació Biomèdica August Pi i Sunyer, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boronat
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sepúlveda
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Llufriu
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sabater
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.forename: Iñigo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gabilondo
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Solà
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Villoslada
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dalmau
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Graus
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saiz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D058969:Contactin 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology*; D012008:Recurrence; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; C548674:CNTN2 protein, human; D058969:Contactin 2; D000939:Epitopes