Significantly increased antibody response to heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins in cerebrospinal fluid of multiple sclerosis patients but not in patients with human T-lymphotropic virus type I–associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis

Abstract

It has been reported that antibodies (Abs) against heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs) are associated with human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I)–associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) and multiple sclerosis (MS). However, these studies were done under nonmasked conditions. In order to determine whether Abs against hnRNPs associate with HAM/TSP and MS, the authors assayed Abs against two major hnRNPs, hnRNP A1 and A2/B1, in 105 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples under fully masked conditions. Samples included 40 cases of HAM/TSP, 28 of MS, and 37 of other neurological diseases. Anti-hnRNP A1 Abs, and especially anti-hnRNP A2/B1 Abs, were found significantly more often in the CSF of MS patients than in other groups. However, there was no difference in the incidence of anti-hnRNP A1 Abs between HAM/TSP and other disease groups.

Keywords:

• anti-hnRNP A1 antibody
• anti-hnRNP A2/B1 antibody
• cerebrospinal fluid
• HTLV-I–associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis
• multiple sclerosis

Motohiro Yukitake and Eisaburo Sueoka contributed equally to this study.

This work was supported by grants from the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture (Y.K.), Uehara Memorial Foundation (N.A.), and Grants-in Aid for Cancer Research (N.A.).