Elevated levels of anti-CD9 antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

Abstract

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a slowly progressive and highly lethal disease of the central nervous system. Although the primary cause of SSPE is believed to be persistent infection of neuron and glial cells by a measles virus, the precise mechanism of the progression of this disease has not yet been elucidated. CD9, a member of the tetraspanin family, is expressed in myelin and other nervous tissues. This study detected significant amounts of anti-CD9 antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of all patients with SSPE included in the study. Anti-CD9 antibodies were also detected in the CSF of some patients with other neurologic disorders, but those patients had lower levels of anti-CD9 antibodies than did the patients with SSPE. The level of anti-CD9 antibodies was elevated and reached a peak that coincided with the appearance of brain atrophy. These findings shed light on a new aspect of the causes and progression of SSPE.

• Authors: Toko Shimizu, Toyojiro Matsuishi, Ryo Iwamoto, Kazuyo Handa, Hiroshi Yoshioka, Hirohisa Kato, Shigeharu Ueda, Hideo Hara, Takeshi Tabira, Eisuke Mekada
• Journal: The Journal of infectious diseases (J Infect Dis) Vol. 185 Issue 9 Pg. 1346-50 (May 01 2002) ISSN: 0022-1899 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12001055 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antibodies
• Antigens, CD
• CD9 protein, human
• Membrane Glycoproteins
• Tetraspanin 29

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Antibodies (cerebrospinal fluid)
• Antigens, CD (immunology)
• Blotting, Western
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Female
• Humans
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Male
• Membrane Glycoproteins
• Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (cerebrospinal fluid, immunology)
• Tetraspanin 29