DETECTION OF ANTIBODIES AGAINST PHENOLIC GLYCOLIPID-1 (PGL-1), 35-KDAAND 30-40-KDA COMPONENTS OF MYCOBACTERIUM-LEPRAE IN THE CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID OF LEPROSY PATIENTS

The involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) in lepromatous lep rosy (LL) patients was investigated; 33 patients were examined clinica lly in detail and upper motor neuron involvement was observed in eight and lower motor neuron in three of these patients. Anti-Mycobacterium leprae antibodies could be detected in the CSF by PGL-1 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and monoclonal antibody (MAb) based compe titive assays against defined epitopes on the 35-kDa protein and 30-40 -kDa polysaccharide (lipo-arabinomannan) antigens with MAbs MLO4 and M L34, respectively. Antibodies against PGL-1 and 35-kDa protein were ob served in more subjects than antibodies against the 30-40-kDa antigen. Some correlation was observed between the upper motor neuron signs an d antibody positivity for 35-kDa and PGL-1 antigens in the CSF of thes e patients.