ANTI-GALECTIN-1 AUTOANTIBODIES IN SERUM OF PATIENTS WITH NEUROLOGICALDISEASES

The presence of autoantibodies to human brain galectin-1 was investiga ted in serum from patients with multiple sclerosis, patients with or w ithout evidence of other neurological disorders, and healthy controls, using an ELISA on purified brain galectin-1. Levels of autoantibodies to galectin-1 were significantly higher in patients than in healthy c ontrols. Comparison of levels of anti-galectin-1 and anti-idiotypic an tibodies mimicking human brain galectin-1 (L-IgG) showed that the high est levels of autoantibodies were present in patients with low levels of L-IgG. This finding can be explained by hypothesizing that the conc entration of autoantibodies to galectin-1 is possibly associated with impairment of the regulation of the immune system. (C) 1997 Elsevier S cience B.V.