Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2013, Vol. 8 ›› Issue (8): 708-713.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.08.005

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Detection of anti-aquaporin-4 autoantibodies in the sera of Chinese neuromyelitis optica patients

Miao Li1, 2, Weiheng Su3, Jie Wang2, Francesco Pisani4, Antonio Frigeri4, Tonghui Ma1   

  1. 1 Membrane Channel Research Laboratory, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, Jilin Province, China
    2 Department of Neurosurgery, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130033, Jilin Province, China
    3 National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, Jilin Province, China
    4 Department of General and Environmental Physiology and Centre of Excellence in Comparative Genomics (CEGBA), University of Bari, I-70126 Bari, Italy
  • Received:2012-05-17 Revised:2012-11-15 Online:2013-03-15 Published:2013-03-15
  • Contact: Tonghui Ma, M.D., Professor, Membrane Channel Research Laboratory, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, Jilin Province, China, math108@gmail.com.
  • About author:Miao Li★, Master, Attending physician, Lecturer.
  • Supported by:

    This work was supported by a grant from the China-Italy Bilateral Cooperation in Science and Technology Committee, No. PGR00011.

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Abstract:

In this study, we recruited 10 neuromyelitis optica patients, two multiple sclerosis patients and two myelitis patients. Chinese hamster lung fibroblast (V79) cells transfected with a human aquaporin-4-mCherry fusion protein gene were used to detect anti-aquaporin-4 antibody in neuromyelitis optica patient sera by immunofluorescence. Anti-aquaporin-4 autoantibody was stably detected by immunofluorescence in neuromyelitis optica patient sera exclusively. The sensitivity of the assay for neuromyelitis optica was 90% and the specificity for neuromyelitis optica was 100%. The anti-aquaporin-4 antibody titers in sera were tested with serial dilutions until the signal disappeared. A positive correlation was detected between Expanded Disability Status Scale scores and serum anti-aquaporin-4 antibody titers. The anti-aquaporin-4 antibody assay is highly sensitive and specific in the sera of Chinese neuromyelitis optica patients. Detection of aquaporin-4 autoantibody is important for the diagnosis and treatment of neuromyelitis optica.

Key words: neural regeneration, neurodegenerative diseases, neuromyelitis optica, multiple sclerosis, aquaporin-4, autoimmune disease, autoantibody, immunofluorescence, Expanded Disability Status Scale, grants-supported paper, photographs-containing paper, neuroregeneration