(alpha)B-crystallin in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis

 Stoevring B, Vang O, Christiansen M. Clin Chim Acta. 2005 Jun;356(1-2):95-101.
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Sector of Microbiology and Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, DK-2300 Copenhagen, Denmark.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:
(alpha)B-crystallin is a chaperone protein and a potential myelin antigen to human T cells in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). In this study we investigate the existence of (alpha)B-crystallin in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with clinical symptoms of MS and control individuals without these symptoms, using a newly developed (alpha)B-crystallin specific chicken antibody.

METHODS:
A chicken anti-(alpha)B-crystallin was raised against recombinant (alpha)B-crystallin, characterized and used in a semi-quantitative Western blot analysis of CSF from 16 MS patients and 16 neurological patients without MS.

RESULTS:
Western blot analysis revealed the presence of high molecular weight (alpha)B-crystallin in CSF. Possibly posttranslationally modified aggregates of (alpha)B-crystallin were found in human astroglioma U373 cells. CSF (alpha)B-crystallin was seen in the CSF in 100% of MS patients and 88% of neurological controls without MS.

CONCLUSION:
(alpha)B-crystallin is present in the CSF in patients with MS and other neurological controls. Furthermore, (alpha)B-crystallin in CSF and human astroglioma cell line U373 is found in aggregates.