Characterization of a cDNA encoding a 34-kDa Purkinje neuron protein recognized by sera from patients with paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration.

Abstract

Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration is a neurological disorder of unknown cause occurring in patients with an identified or occult cancer. An autoimmune etiology is likely since autoantibodies directed against the Purkinje cells of the cerebellum have been found in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of some patients. Two Purkinje cell-specific antigens are recognized by these autoantibodies, a major antigen of 62 kDa (CDR 62, cerebellar degeneration-related 62-kDa protein) and a minor antigen of 34 kDa (CDR 34). Our previous studies have described the isolation and characterization of a human cerebellar cDNA that encodes an epitope recognized by sera from patients with paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration. We have now established by two independent methods that this gene is uniquely expressed in Purkinje cells of the cerebellum and corresponds to the minor antigen CDR 34. This antigen is also expressed in tumor tissue from a patient with paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration.

• Authors: H M Furneaux, E J Dropcho, D Barbut, Y T Chen, M K Rosenblum, L J Old, J B Posner
• Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A) Vol. 86 Issue 8 Pg. 2873-7 (Apr 1989) ISSN: 0027-8424 [Print] United States
• PMID: 2649898 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Autoantigens
• Nerve Tissue Proteins
• Recombinant Fusion Proteins
• DNA

Topics

• Autoantigens (genetics)
• Blotting, Western
• Cerebellar Diseases (genetics, immunology)
• Cloning, Molecular
• DNA (genetics)
• Humans
• Immunoenzyme Techniques
• Molecular Weight
• Nerve Tissue Proteins (genetics)
• Paraneoplastic Syndromes (genetics, immunology)
• Purkinje Cells (physiology)
• Recombinant Fusion Proteins (immunology)