Antigenic features of myelin basic protein-like material in cerebrospinal fluid
Whitaker, J.N.; Bashir, R.M.; Chou, C.H.; Kibler, R.F.
Journal of Immunology 124(3): 1148-1153
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-1767 PMID: 7358980 Document Number: 168192
This study delineated more clearly the antigenic regions of myelin basic protein (BP) which briefly appears in CSF in association with acute injury to CNS myelin. Three different radioimmunoassays were developed to detect material cross-reactive with human BP peptides 1-42, 43-88 and 89-169, and were used to analyze CSF specimens from 93 persons with a variety of neurologic diseases., All 3 assays had a similar sensitivity to approximately 100 pg/assay tube, but only material cross-reactive with peptide 43-88 was detected. Further studies were performed using 4 antisera that reacted well with BP peptide 43-88 but yielded CSF values of BP-like material that differed up to 100-fold. Immunochemical studies of the 4 antisera demonstrated that the ability of an antiserum to detect BP-like material in CSF was directly correlated with the ability of that antiserum to react well with intact BP, BP peptide 68-88 and BP peptide 79-88. The findings provide a basis for selecting antisera to employ in studies of CSF and other body fluids for BP-like material and indicate that either small BP peptides from the carboxyl end of the molecular region encompassing residues 43-88 or a conformationally restrictive form of BP constitute a major component of BP-like material entering the CSF at the time of myelin damage.