Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Sep 2003
Serum IgG antibodies to P0 dimer and 35 kDa P0 related protein in neuropathy associated with monoclonal gammopathy.
Peripheral neuropathies (PN) associated with monoclonal gammopathy (MG) are widely considered as autoimmune disorders, but the putative role of incriminated antigens is still not understood. ⋯ This is the first report of antibody activity directed against the dimeric association of P0. Although P0 oligomerisation and adhesion properties play a crucial part in the myelin sheath compaction, the pathogenic significance of these autoantibodies needs further investigations to be elucidated.
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Following the discovery in the early 1960s that mitochondria contain their own DNA (mtDNA), there were two major advances, both in the 1980s: the human mtDNA sequence was published in 1981, and in 1988 the first pathogenic mtDNA mutations were identified. The floodgates were opened, and the 1990s became the decade of the mitochondrial genome. ⋯ Moreover, mitochondrial dysfunction plays an important role in the pathophysiology of several well established nuclear genetic disorders, such as dominant optic atrophy (mutations in OPA1), Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA), hereditary spastic paraplegia (SPG7), and Wilson's disease (ATP7B). The next major challenge is to define the more subtle interactions between nuclear and mitochondrial genes in health and disease.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Sep 2003
Clinical TrialA sensitive radioimmunoprecipitation assay for assessing the clinical relevance of antibodies to IFN beta.
Some multiple sclerosis (MS) patients treated with interferon beta (IFN beta) develop antibodies to the drug. Neutralising antibody (NAB) assays for IFN beta are expensive and the clinical relevance of the results has been debated. ⋯ The RIPA assay is sensitive and easy to perform. It should be of value in assessing the clinical impact of IFN beta antibodies, and its use could help target expensive INF beta treatments to those who will respond best.