Abstract
Article abstract–The expression of heat shock proteins (hsp) within the target organ is implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of diseases of suspected autoimmune etiology, including MS. To pursue the potential role of a humoral response to the hsp 60/65 kd family in MS, we studied serum and CSF by Western blotting using recombinant Mycobacterium bovis hsp 65 and human hsp 60 as antigens and compared the findings with samples from patients with other neurologic diseases (OND). Analysis of the IgG response in CSF from 18 patients with MS indicated moderate reactivity in 10 cases and no reactivity in eight. In the OND group, reactivity was found in the CSF from one of two patients with Parkinson's disease, four of four Alzheimer's disease patients, and two of two patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. CSF samples from seven of seven patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis were negative, as were samples from two normal subjects. There was no reactivity in CSF from two Huntington's disease patients. We conclude that antibodies reactive with hsp 60/65 are present in CSF of some MS patients but are also present in a number of chronic neurodegenerative conditions. The findings indicate that a humoral response to hsp 60/65 in the CSF is not specific for MS.
- © 1994 by AAN Enterprises, Inc.
AAN Members
We have changed the login procedure to improve access between AAN.com and the Neurology journals. If you are experiencing issues, please log out of AAN.com and clear history and cookies. (For instructions by browser, please click the instruction pages below). After clearing, choose preferred Journal and select login for AAN Members. You will be redirected to a login page where you can log in with your AAN ID number and password. When you are returned to the Journal, your name should appear at the top right of the page.
AAN Non-Member Subscribers
Purchase access
Letters: Rapid online correspondence
REQUIREMENTS
You must ensure that your Disclosures have been updated within the previous six months. Please go to our Submission Site to add or update your Disclosure information.
Your co-authors must send a completed Publishing Agreement Form to Neurology Staff (not necessary for the lead/corresponding author as the form below will suffice) before you upload your comment.
If you are responding to a comment that was written about an article you originally authored:
You (and co-authors) do not need to fill out forms or check disclosures as author forms are still valid
and apply to letter.
Submission specifications:
- Submissions must be < 200 words with < 5 references. Reference 1 must be the article on which you are commenting.
- Submissions should not have more than 5 authors. (Exception: original author replies can include all original authors of the article)
- Submit only on articles published within 6 months of issue date.
- Do not be redundant. Read any comments already posted on the article prior to submission.
- Submitted comments are subject to editing and editor review prior to posting.
