title: Standardisation of Western blotting to detect HTLV-1 antibodies synthesised in the central nervous system of HAM/TSP patients.
abstract: Intrathecal synthesis of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) antibodies (Abs) represents conclusive evidence of a specific immune response in the central nervous system of HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) patients. Western blotting (WB) for HTLV Abs in serum is a confirmatory test for HTLV-1 infection. The aim of this study was to standardise the Western blot to demonstrate the intrathecal pattern of Abs against HTLV-1 proteins in HAM/TSP patients. Paired cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples were selected from 20 patients with definite HAM/TSP, 19 HTLV-1 seronegative patients and two HTLV-1 patients without definite HAM/TSP. The presence of reactive bands of greater intensity in the CSF compared to serum (or bands in only the CSF) indicated the intrathecal synthesis of anti-HTLV-1 Abs. All definite HAM/TSP patients presented with an intrathecal synthesis of anti-HTLV-1 Abs; these Abs were not detected in the control patients. The most frequent intrathecal targets of anti-HTLV-1 Abs were GD21, rgp46-I and p24 and, to a lesser extent, p19, p26, p28, p32, p36, p53 gp21 and gp46. The intrathecal immune response against env (GD21 and rgp46-I) and gag (p24) proteins represents the most important humoral pattern in HAM/TSP. This response may be used as a diagnostic marker, considering the frequent association of intrathecal anti-HTLV-1 Ab synthesis with HAM/TSP and the pathogenesis of this neurological disease.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de JaneiroRJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Luiz Claudio Pereira
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Cassia Cristina Alves
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Carla Maria Sena Andrade
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Slater
authors.forename: Silvia Maia Farias de
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Marzia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puccioni-Sohler
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000592:standards*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015686:Gene Products, env / Q000276:immunology; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000276:immunology; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000276:immunology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015686:Gene Products, env; D015683:Gene Products, gag; D007074:Immunoglobulin G
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