Investigations of caspr2, an autoantigen of encephalitis and neuromyotonia.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To report clinical and immunological investigations of contactin-associated protein-like 2 (Caspr2), an autoantigen of encephalitis and peripheral nerve hyperexcitability (PNH) previously attributed to voltage-gated potassium channels (VGKC).

Methods

Clinical analysis was performed on patients with encephalitis, PNH, or both. Immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry were used to identify the antigen and to develop an assay with Caspr2-expressing cells. Immunoabsorption with Caspr2 and comparative immunostaining of brain and peripheral nerve of wild-type and Caspr2-null mice were used to assess antibody specificity.

Results

Using Caspr2-expressing cells, antibodies were identified in 8 patients but not in 140 patients with several types of autoimmune or vira

SUBMITTER: Lancaster E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3059252 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature