Identification of DAGLA as an autoantibody target in cerebellar ataxia.

Background: We aimed to investigate the clinical, imaging and fluid biomarker characteristics in patients with antidiacylglycerol lipase alpha (DAGLA)-autoantibody-associated cerebellitis.

Methods: Serum and cerebrospinal fliud (CSF) samples from four index patients were subjected to comprehensive autoantibody screening by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIFA). Immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry and recombinant protein assays were used to identify the autoantigen.

Septin-3 autoimmunity in patients with paraneoplastic cerebellar ataxia.

Background: Septins are cytoskeletal proteins with filament forming capabilities, which have multiple roles during cell division, cellular polarization, morphogenesis, and membrane trafficking. Autoantibodies against septin-5 are associated with non-paraneoplastic cerebellar ataxia, and autoantibodies against septin-7 with encephalopathy with prominent neuropsychiatric features. Here, we report on newly identified autoantibodies against septin-3 in patients with paraneoplastic cerebellar ataxia.

Autoantibodies Against the Purkinje Cell Protein RGS8 in Paraneoplastic Cerebellar Syndrome.

Objective: To describe the identification of regulator of G-protein signaling 8 (RGS8) as an autoantibody target in patients with cerebellar syndrome associated with lymphoma.

Methods: Sera of 4 patients with a very similar unclassified reactivity against cerebellar Purkinje cells were used in antigen identification experiments. Immunoprecipitations with cerebellar lysates followed by mass spectrometry identified the autoantigen, which was verified by recombinant immunofluorescence assay, immunoblot, and ELISA with the recombinant protein.

A Spectrum of Neural Autoantigens, Newly Identified by Histo-Immunoprecipitation, Mass Spectrometry, and Recombinant Cell-Based Indirect Immunofluorescence.

Background: A plurality of neurological syndromes is associated with autoantibodies against neural antigens relevant for diagnosis and therapy. Identification of these antigens is crucial to understand the pathogenesis and to develop specific immunoassays. Using an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA)-based approach and applying different immunoprecipitation (IP), chromatographic and mass spectrometric protocols was possible to isolate and identify a spectrum of autoantigens from brain tissue.

Rho-associated protein kinase 2 (ROCK2): a new target of autoimmunity in paraneoplastic encephalitis.

Onconeural antibodies are associated with cancer and paraneoplastic encephalitis. While their pathogenic role is still largely unknown, their high diagnostic value is undisputed. In this study we describe the discovery of a novel target of autoimmunity in an index case of paraneoplastic encephalitis associated with urogenital cancer.

Neurochondrin is a neuronal target antigen in autoimmune cerebellar degeneration.

Objective: To report on a novel neuronal target antigen in 3 patients with autoimmune cerebellar degeneration.

Methods: Three patients with subacute to chronic cerebellar ataxia and controls underwent detailed clinical and neuropsychological assessment together with quantitative high-resolution structural MRI. Sera and CSF were subjected to comprehensive autoantibody screening by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and immunoblot.

Autoantibodies against glutamate receptor δ2 after allogenic stem cell transplantation.

Objective: To report on a Caucasian patient who developed steroid-responsive transverse myelitis, graft vs host disease of the gut, and anti-GluRδ2 after allogenic stem cell transplantation.

Methods: Histoimmunoprecipitation (HIP) with the patient's serum and cryosections of rat and porcine cerebellum followed by mass spectrometry was used to identify the autoantigen. Correct identification was verified by indirect immunofluorescence using recombinant GluRδ2 expressed in HEK293 cells.

Neuronal Na+/K+ ATPase is an autoantibody target in paraneoplastic neurologic syndrome.

Objectives: To identify an autoreactivity in a 66-year-old woman who presented with combined brainstem and cerebellar syndrome including vertical gaze palsy, severe progressive ataxia, and spastic tetraparesis, an acute deterioration of vision, dysarthria, and dysphagia with concurrent diagnosis of a colon adenocarcinoma.

Methods: Patient's serum and CSF underwent comprehensive autoantibody screening by indirect immunofluorescence assay and immunoblot. For autoantigen purification, a histo-immunoprecipitation technique was developed followed by mass spectrometrical analysis.