J. Bergquist et al., DEMONSTRATION OF IMMUNOGLOBULIN-G WITH AFFINITY FOR DOPAMINE IN CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID FROM PSYCHOTIC-PATIENTS, Clinica chimica acta, 217(2), 1993, pp. 129-142
Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, significantly raised conce
ntrations of immunoglobulin G with affinity for the neurotransmitter d
opamine were demonstrated in cerebrospinal fluid from psychotic patien
ts. We have varied the antigen presentation in order to find a conjuga
te with low unspecific binding. The conjugation of dopamine to carbodi
imide-activated poly-L-glutamic acid and that to activated succinimide
ester of biotin are described. The use of glutaraldehyde conjugation
is not recommended because of the risk of formation of tetrahydroisoqu
inolines. A strong correlation (r = 0.94, P < 0.001) between the resul
ts obtained with dopamine conjugated to poly-L-glutamic acid and dopam
ine conjugated to biotin was observed. Forty-two human cerebrospinal f
luid samples from 20 psychotic patients, (12 with a bipolar disorder a
nd 8 with schizophrenia) and 22 control patients, with various neurolo
gical diseases but no apparent psychiatric diseases were investigated.
A significantly higher incidence (P < 0.001) of antibodies with affin
ity for dopamine were found in the group of psychotic patients compare
d with the neurological control group.