Studies characterizing 60 kda autoantibodies in subjects with schizophrenia.
BACKGROUND: Studies suggest that schizophrenic patients have an increased prevalence of serum antibodies to neuroblastoma cell proteins migrating at 60 kilodaltons (kDa). We present work identifying and characterizing 60 kDa antigen-antibody interactions. METHODS: Sera from schizophrenic subjects and normal volunteers were screened by Western blotting. Proteins migrating at 60 kDa were characterized by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and indirect immunofluorescent staining of human epithelial cell (HEp-2) slides. Human brain and bladder cell complementary deoxyribonucleic acid libraries were screened with immunoaffinity-purified antibodies. Complementary deoxyribonucleic acid clones were sequenced and compared with published databases. Proteins were generated by in vitro transcription/translation and expression in an Escherichia coli BL21 system. Immunoprecipitation and immunohistochemistry studies were performed. RESULTS: Fifteen percent (17/117) of schizophrenic subjects and 3% (2/62) of normal volunteers had autoantibodies that reacted with 60 kDa proteins [chi(2)(1) = 4.4, p =.037]. Five percent of subjects had autoantibodies directed against 60 kDa heat shock protein (HSP60) [chi(2)(1) = 3.3, p =.100). Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis identified 13 different proteins migrating at 60 kDa; 5 were splice variants of HSP60, and 2 corresponded with a protein associated with MYC ( PAM). CONCLUSIONS: There is an increased prevalence of autoantibodies that bind to proteins migrating at 60 kDa in subjects with schizophrenia. Potential target antigens include HSP60 and PAM.[1]References
- Studies characterizing 60 kda autoantibodies in subjects with schizophrenia. Wang, X.F., Wang, D., Zhu, W., Delrahim, K.K., Dolnak, D., Rapaport, M.H. Biol. Psychiatry (2003) [Pubmed]
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