Changes in concanavalin A-reactive proteins in neurological disorders

Changes of glycosylation of cerebrospinal fluid proteins such as alpha(2)-m acroglobulin, and prostaglandin D synthase were studied by lectin blotting, using concanavalin A, in multiple sclerosis (n = 42) and neuropathies (n = 20) in comparison to neurological controls (n = 22). The concanavalinA-rea ctivity of alpha(2)-macroglobulin, which was increased in the neuropathies but not in multiple sclerosis compared to controls, correlated with the tot al concanavalinA-reactivity in controls and neuropathies but not in multipl e sclerosis, indicating that the protein could be abnormally glycosylated i n the latter disease. Although the concentration and the concanavalinA-reac tivity of prostaglandin D synthase were not significantly different in the three groups, the two parameters correlated only in neuropathies but not in controls or multiple sclerosis, probably due to the high heterogeneity of the protein. These changes deserve to be studied in further detail in view of their potential clinical applications. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 13:158-165, 1 999. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.