Cerebrospinal fluid and serum antibodies against neurofilaments in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

• Published in: European journal of neurology Vol. 17; no. 4; pp. 562 - 566
• Main Authors: Fialová, L., Švarcová, J., Bartos, A., Ridzoň, P., Malbohan, I., Keller, O., Rusina, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.04.2010; John Wiley & Sons, Inc
• Subjects: Aged; Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - blood; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - cerebrospinal fluid; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - immunology; anti-neurofilament antibodies; Autoantibodies - blood; Autoantibodies - cerebrospinal fluid; Case-Control Studies; cerebrospinal fluid; ELISA; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Immunoglobulin G - cerebrospinal fluid; Immunoglobulins; Male; Middle Aged; Neurofilament Proteins - immunology; serum; Severity of Illness Index; Time Factors
• ISSN: 1351-5101; 1468-1331
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2009.02853.x

Background:  The aim of the study was to assess autoimmune involvement in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods:  We measured IgG antibodies against light (NFL) and medium (NFM) subunits of neurofilaments using ELISA in paired cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples from 38 ALS patients and 20 controls. Results:  Serum levels of anti‐NFL were higher in ALS patients than in controls (P < 0.005). Serum anti‐NFL antibodies and intrathecal anti‐NFM antibodies were related to patient disability (serum anti‐NFL: P < 0.05; intrathecal anti‐NFM: P < 0.05). Anti‐NFL levels were significantly correlated with anti‐NFM levels in ALS (P < 0.001) and the control group (P < 0.0001) in the CSF, but not in serum. Anti‐NFL and anti‐NFM antibodies significantly correlated between serum and CSF in the ALS group (anti‐NFL: P < 0.0001; anti‐NFM: P < 0.001) and in the control group (anti‐NFL: P < 0.05; anti‐NFM: P < 0.05). Conclusions:  Autoimmune humoral response to neurocytoskeletal proteins is associated with ALS.