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Brain-reactive antibodies and the AIDS dementia complex
M Kumar1, L Resnick, D A Loewenstein
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Miami, School of Medicine, FL 33101.
Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes
|January 1, 1989
Summary
Brain-reactive antibodies (BRAs) were found in AIDS patients with dementia. These autoantibodies targeted a specific protein, suggesting a role in AIDS dementia complex development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Virology
- Neuropathology
Background:
- Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) dementia complex is a significant neurological complication.
- The role of autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of AIDS dementia complex remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and potential role of brain-reactive antibodies (BRAs) in patients with AIDS dementia complex.
Main Methods:
- Assayed BRAs in 30 serum samples from AIDS patients (18 with and 12 without neuropsychological complications).
- Utilized nitrocellulose electroblots with antigens from human parahippocampal tissue (SDS-PAGE).
Main Results:
- BRAs were detected in 14 of 18 AIDS patients with neuropsychological complications.
- BRAs were also found in 4 of 12 AIDS patients without neuropsychological involvement.
- Positive BRAs targeted a protein with a molecular weight of 45,000-50,000.
Conclusions:
- The presence of BRAs, particularly against a 45-50 kDa protein, is associated with neuropsychological complications in AIDS patients.
- These findings suggest that BRAs may contribute to the development of AIDS dementia complex.