TITLE:
Autoantibodies against myelin antigens in patients with neuromyelitis optica
AUTHORS:
Kota Moriguchi, Katsuichi Miyamoto, Juri Ichihashi, Susumu Kusunoki
KEYWORDS:
Neuromyelitis Optica; Anti-Myelin Antibody; Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein; Proteolipid Protein; Myelin Basic Protein
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Immunology,
Vol.3 No.2,
June
5,
2013
ABSTRACT: In this study, we investigated the clinical relevance of anti-myelin antibodies in patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO); titers of antibodies against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoproteins, proteolipid proteins and myelin basic proteins were measured in the sera of patients with NMO and compared to healthy controls, as well as to patients with other diseases. The frequency of presence of anti-myelin antibodies in patients with NMO was significantly higher than that in healthy and diseased controls. The expanded disability status scale scores correlated with the titers of the anti-myelin antibodies. Patients with anti-myelin antibody exhibited other autoantibodies significantly more frequently than patients without the antibody. Anti-myelin antibodies may be useful markers for predicting severe clinical courses in patients with NMO.