Demonstration of anti-HuD specific oligoclonal bands in the cerebrospinal fluid from patients with paraneoplastic neurological syndromes - Qualitative evidence of anti-HuD specific IgG-synthesis in the central nervous system

The presence of HuD-specific oligoclonal IgG bands in the CSF was investiga ted in five patients with paraneoplastic neurological syndromes. All patien ts revealed intrathecal synthesis of HuD specific antibodies in the CSF, as estimated from elevated antibody indices (>1.5) in an IgG-ELISA using reco mbinant HuD-protein as antigen. Isoelectrofocussing combined with affinity blotting showed reactivity of IgG bands with recombinant HuD antigen in all CSF samples. These data support the idea that HuD specific antibodies in t he CSF are produced mainly by B-cell clones in the central nervous system. These findings support the hypothesis of autoimmunity in the pathogenesis o f anti-Hu associated paraneoplastic neurological syndromes. (C) 2000 Elsevi er Science B.V. All rights reserved.