Antibody to a zinc finger protein in a patient with paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration.

Abstract

In some patients with paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD), autoantibodies against neural components have been identified. Here, we demonstrate a major 58 kd protein antigen in an immunoblot of human cerebellum by serum from a patient with PCD. Immunohistochemically, the serum recognized neural cells especially Purkinje cells in a human brain. To identify the details of the target antigens for the antibody, we isolated a cDNA clone from a human cerebellar library. Homology searches revealed a similarity with the zinc finger proteins. PCD related proteins reported here may be important to maintain neural cells especially those in the cerebellum, and further studies on this molecule may help us elucidate the causes of degenerative or autoimmune diseases in the cerebellum.

• Authors: S Sato, T Inuzuka, R Nakano, N Fujita, N Matsubara, K Sakimura, M Mishina, T Miyatake
• Journal: Biochemical and biophysical research communications (Biochem Biophys Res Commun) Vol. 178 Issue 1 Pg. 198-206 (Jul 15 1991) ISSN: 0006-291X [Print] United States
• PMID: 1712585 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antigens, Neoplasm
• Autoantibodies
• RNA

Topics

• Aged
• Amino Acid Sequence
• Antigens, Neoplasm (analysis, genetics)
• Autoantibodies (analysis)
• Blotting, Northern
• Brain Neoplasms (diagnosis, immunology)
• Cerebellar Ataxia (etiology, immunology)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunoenzyme Techniques
• Molecular Sequence Data
• Paraneoplastic Syndromes (diagnosis, immunology)
• RNA (genetics, isolation & purification)
• Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
• Zinc Fingers (genetics, immunology)