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Degradation of myelin basic protein by cerebrospinal fluid: Preservation of antigenic determinants under physiological conditions
Author(s) -
Alvord Ellsworth C.,
Hruby Sarka,
Sires Linda R.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/ana.410060604
Subject(s) - cerebrospinal fluid , degradation (telecommunications) , antigen , myelin basic protein , myelin , neuroscience , chemistry , immunology , biology , central nervous system , computer science , telecommunications
Cerebrospinal fluid contains several proteolytic enzymes that can degrade myelin basic protein (BP) under physiological conditions into peptide fragments of various sizes which still contain antigenic determinants capable of binding antibodies to BP. These enzymes are optimally active in either acid (pH 4) or neutral (pH 7 to 8) conditions and can be characterized by the nature of the BP peptide fragments produced. Proteinases resembling cathepsin D, thrombin, plasmin (fibrinolysin), or kallikrein are present in variable amounts in CSF. No relatinship to any particular disease has yet been established.