myelin-basic-protein and Polyradiculopathy

Topics: Abattoirs; Aerosols; Air Pollutants, Occupational; Animals; Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System; Brain; Disease Outbreaks; Humans; Inhalation Exposure; Mice; Myelin Basic Protein; Occupational Exposure; Polyradiculopathy; Sensory Receptor Cells; Swine

Platelet aggregation (PA) stimulated by encephalitogenic peptide (EP) and PA induced by ADP were measured in 83 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and 70 control subjects with other neurological diseases (OND). EP-stimulated PA was significantly increased in MS patients as compared with the controls. There was no significant difference in ADP-induced PA between patients with MS and OND. The results are discussed in terms of EP-stimulated platelets playing a role in the pathogenesis of MS by affecting the venular permeability of the brain.

Topics: Adenosine Diphosphate; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Capillary Permeability; Demyelinating Diseases; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Multiple Sclerosis; Myelin Basic Protein; Nervous System Diseases; Platelet Aggregation; Polyradiculopathy

Experimental allergic neuritis (EAN) in the peripheral nervous system, without involvement of the central nervous system, was produced in laboratory animals by the injection of a basic neuritogenic protein, P1L, purified from human peripheral nerves. The animals manifested a positive skin test with P1L, and their lymphocytes were found to be transformed in vitro in the presence of this protein several days before the appearance of the clinical signs. Passive transfer of the disease was performed with lymph node cells from donor guinea pigs immunized with P1L protein. EAN, the experimental model for the human disease Guillaain-Barré syndrome, was shown to be a transient disease and could be suppressed by the administration of hydrocortisone.

Topics: Animals; Autoimmune Diseases; Disease Models, Animal; Guinea Pigs; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Immunity, Cellular; Immunization, Passive; Immunosuppression Therapy; Lymphocyte Activation; Myelin Basic Protein; Myelin Proteins; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Neuritis; Polyradiculopathy; Rats; Skin Tests

Lymphocytes from patients with Bell's palsy were shown to undergo significant stimulation when cultured in vitro in the presence of a purely neuritogenic basic protein (P1L) isolated from human peripheral nerve myelin. No sensitization was observed to other neural antigens, namely, another periperal nerve myelin basic protein (P2) and the central nerve myelin basic encephalitogenic protein (BE). A similar pattern of response was also demonstrated in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Lymphocytes from patients suffering from other neuropathies or other diseases involving the face showed no response to any of these antigens. The specific in vitro response to P1L protein in Bell's palsy may suggest that an in vivo sensitization of lymphocytes to such self protein occurs in this condition, and that cell-mediated, probably post-infectious, autoimmune mechanisms may be an important factor in the pathogenesis of the paralysis. Thus, Bell's palsy is immunologically similar to GBS, or may even represent a mononeuritic variant of GBS. In view of these findings the administration of steroids to patients with Bell's palsy seems logical on the basis of their immunosuppressive action.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Diabetes Complications; Facial Paralysis; Female; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Lectins; Lymphocyte Activation; Male; Middle Aged; Myelin Basic Protein; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Peripheral Nerves; Polyradiculopathy; Prednisone; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Puerperal Disorders; Receptors, Cholinergic

Topics: Acute Disease; Antibodies; Brain Diseases; Chronic Disease; Encephalomyelitis; Female; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Immunodiffusion; Iodine Radioisotopes; Lectins; Lymphocyte Activation; Male; Multiple Sclerosis; Myelin Basic Protein; Polyradiculopathy; Tritium

Topics: Acute Disease; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Antigens; Brain; Cell Migration Inhibition; Child; Child, Preschool; Encephalitis; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental; Female; Freeze Drying; Humans; Infant; Leukocytes; Male; Meningitis; Middle Aged; Myelin Basic Protein; Polyradiculopathy

Topics: Aged; Antigen-Antibody Reactions; Antigens; Blood Proteins; Eye Movements; Female; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Lymphocyte Activation; Myelin Basic Protein; Ophthalmoplegia; Polyradiculopathy; Prednisone; Serologic Tests; Streptodornase and Streptokinase