AUTOANTIBODY TO A NOVEL NEURONAL ANTIGEN IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS AND IN NORMAL HUMAN-SERA

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 44  (3) , 555-559
Abstract
A non-Fc receptor-bearing mouse neuroblastoma cell line. Neuro-2a, was used in indirect immunofluorescence tests to characterize the pattern of anti-neuronal activity of human sera in 41 cases of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), including 7 cases of cerebral lupus, 30 disease controls (rheumatoid arthritis and chronic active hepatitis) and 30 healthy subjects. The immunofluorescence reaction with Neuro-2a gave a uniform ring fluorescence of the cell surface cultured cell at 4 and at 37.degree. C, clusters were seen at 5-10 min and surface globules at 20-120 min. Titers of antibody to Neuro-2a in SLE ranged from < 5 (7 cases), 5-20 (23 cases) and .gtoreq. 40 (11 cases). Titers of 80-160 were given by 5 of 7 cases of cerebral lupus and 2 of 34 cases without cerebral lupus. Antibody to Neuro-2a was demonstrable in subjects without SLE, but to lower titers (< 5-20). Of 11 SLE sera with antibody titers .gtoreq. 1:40, the antibody class was IgM in 8 IgG in 2 and both IgM and IgG in 1. Absorption studies indicated that serum reactivity against Neuro-2a cells could be removed from some SLE sera with the cultured human neuroblastoma cell line. SK-N-SH, but not with mouse fibroblasts, mouse 3T3 cells, rat C6 glioma cells, rat transformed mesenchymal cells or by homogenates of mouse brain, heart, liver or kidney. Detection of antibody to Neuro-2a cells may be helpful in identifying patients with cerebral disease due to SLE.