Journal of Neuroimmunology
Volume 217, Issue 1 , Pages 74-79, 10 December 2009

Western blot analysis for the detection of serum antibodies recognizing linear Aquaporin-4 epitopes in patients with Neuromyelitis Optica

  • Fabiana Marnetto

      Affiliations

    • SCDO: Neurologia 2, Centro Sclerosi Multipla (CReSM), AOU S. Luigi Gonzaga, Orbassano, Torino, Italy
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. SCDO: Neurologia 2, Centro Sclerosi Multipla (CReSM), AOU S. Luigi Gonzaga, Regione Gonzole 10, I-10043, Orbassano, Torino, Italy. Tel.: +39 011 9026437; fax: +39 011 9026397.
    • ,
  • Bianca Hellias

      Affiliations

    • Istituto scientifico Cavalieri Ottolenghi, Università degli studi di Torino, AOU S. Luigi Gonzaga, Orbassano, Torino, Italy
    • ,
  • Letizia Granieri

      Affiliations

    • SCDO: Neurologia 2, Centro Sclerosi Multipla (CReSM), AOU S. Luigi Gonzaga, Orbassano, Torino, Italy
    • ,
  • Jessica Frau

      Affiliations

    • Centro Sclerosi Multipla, Dipartimento di Scienze Neurologiche e Cardiovascolari, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
    • ,
  • Agata Katia Patanella

      Affiliations

    • Centro Sclerosi Multipla, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, UCSC Rome, Italy
    • ,
  • Petra Nytrova

      Affiliations

    • Department of Neurology, Charles University in Prague, 1st Faculty of Medicine and General Teaching Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
    • ,
  • Arianna Sala

      Affiliations

    • SCDO: Neurologia 2, Centro Sclerosi Multipla (CReSM), AOU S. Luigi Gonzaga, Orbassano, Torino, Italy
    • ,
  • Marco Capobianco

      Affiliations

    • SCDO: Neurologia 2, Centro Sclerosi Multipla (CReSM), AOU S. Luigi Gonzaga, Orbassano, Torino, Italy
    • ,
  • Francesca Gilli

      Affiliations

    • SCDO: Neurologia 2, Centro Sclerosi Multipla (CReSM), AOU S. Luigi Gonzaga, Orbassano, Torino, Italy
    • ,
  • Antonio Bertolotto

      Affiliations

    • SCDO: Neurologia 2, Centro Sclerosi Multipla (CReSM), AOU S. Luigi Gonzaga, Orbassano, Torino, Italy

Received 10 June 2009; received in revised form 29 September 2009; accepted 2 October 2009. published online 22 October 2009.

Abstract 

The current study presents a western blot assay showing good sensitivity (81%) and specificity (97%) for detecting serum antibodies to Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) in patients with Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO). By using western blot, we were able, for the first time, to distinguish serum immunoreactivity against either of the two AQP4 isoforms, showing that antibodies recognizing the linear AQP4-M1 isoform are specific for NMO. Moreover, the high sensitivity and specificity of the western blot assay in detecting serum anti-AQP4 antibodies in NMO patients suggest that such auto-antibodies may be of linear nature, thus recognizing epitopes that are displayed in denatured protein.

Keywords: Aquaporin-4, Neuromyelitis Optica, AQP-4 antibodies

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PII: S0165-5728(09)00393-2

doi:10.1016/j.jneuroim.2009.10.002

Journal of Neuroimmunology
Volume 217, Issue 1 , Pages 74-79, 10 December 2009

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