Detection of myelin basic protein in cerebrospinal fluid and serum from patients with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis

Abstract

BackgroundHuman T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-associated myelopathy (HAM)/tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP) is a chronic inflammatory disease that primarily affects the spinal cord and may be a neurological syndrome that is clinically similar to multiple sclerosis (MS). Myelin basic protein (MBP) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of MS patients is generally measured by radio-immunoassay. We have recently established a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and measured the MBP concentrations in CSF and serum of HAM/TSP patients. MethodsA sensitive two-site ELISA capable of measuring MBP at a concentration as low as 30pg/mL in serum and CSF samples was used. ResultsSignificantly higher CSF MBP concentrations were detected in 61% of HAM/TSP patients than in patients with non-neurological diseases. Serum MBP concentrations were also higher in 9% of HAM/TSP patients compared with patients with non-neurological diseases or healthy controls. ConclusionsUsing our ELISA system, we detected MBP in CSF and serum not only in patients with central active demyelination as in MS, but also in patients with spinal cord demyelination as in HAM/TSP