Autoantibodies to acetylcholinesterase revisited

A sensitive and specific enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) utilizin g human recombinant acetylcholinesterase has been employed for the detectio n of human antibodies to human acetylcholinesterase. The method can detect allogenic antibodies to the Yt(3) form of human erythrocyte AChE. Adaptatio n of this ELISA method allowed the IgG subclass typing of IgG anti-AChE ant ibodies, which could help to determine the possible role of these antibodie s in the aetiology of any neurological conditions. Routine serological inve stigations established the AChE phenotype of each of the patients recruited , to determine whether anti-AChE antibodies were allogenic or autogenic in origin. These techniques were used to determine the incidence of autoantibo dies to AChE in patients with neurological conditions, including the subtyp es of motor neuron disease. The data presented are not consistent with earl ier reports of a high incidence of autoantibodies to AChE in amyotrophic la teral sclerosis and progressive muscular atrophy. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.