myelin-basic-protein and Cardiomyopathy--Dilated

IgG and IgM antibodies to the myelin major protein (MMP) have been measured by solid-phase enzyme immunoassay (EIA) in the blood sera of 31 patients with dilatation cardiomyopathy (DCMP), 4 ones with coronary disease (CD), and 20 normal subjects. Nonspecific binding of the native and aggregated human gamma-globulin with the MMP has been examined, as well as the correlation between the blood serum concentrations of circulating immune complexes, IgG and IgM, and the rheumatoid factor, and the titers of IgG and IgM antibodies to MMP; no correlation has been detected (p greater than 0.05). The activities of bovine and porcine MMP in EIA have been under study and found identical (p less than 0.001). No anti-MMP antibody has been detected in CD patients, whereas in DCMP IgG antibodies have been present in 55% and IgM ones in 49% of the cases, and 52% of the patients had both types of antibodies. Dynamic titration of anti-MMP antibody carried out in 9 DCMP patients has revealed a 4-fold and higher elevation of the titers in 4 patients and a reduction of these titers in other 4 patients. Comparison of the titers of IgG and IgM antibodies to MMP and the peripheral blood lymphocyte ability to spontaneous synthesis of immunoglobulins and Phytolacca mitogen-stimulated Ig synthesis by the MMP has revealed a correlation between these parameters. The findings permit a hypothesis on the involvement of the nerve fiber myelin-containing cells, possibly of the afferent system of the heart, in half the examinees with DCMP.

Topics: Cardiomyopathy, Dilated; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin M; Myelin Basic Protein

Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of patients with dilatation cardiomyopathy (DCMP), CHD and healthy persons were investigated for the presence of sensitization to the protein basic myelin (PB) for characterization of an immunopathological process in DCMP. In half of the DCMP patients there was sensitization to MMP, the presence of cytotoxic MMP-specific lymphocytes, a decrease in PBL suppressor and proliferative activity, an increase in IgG and IgM biosynthesis and lack of the lymphocytic capacity for induction of specific suppressor activity to this protein. A conclusion of myelin damage in DCMP development was made on the basis of the data obtained. An assumption was made of the appearance of focal inflammatory demyelinization in the myocardium accompanied by an autoimmune process with disorder of cooperative links of T- and B-lymphocytes.

Topics: B-Lymphocytes; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin M; Lymphocytes; Myelin Basic Protein; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory