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Immunochemical aberrations of α 2 ‐macroglobulin purified from a patient with multiple sclerosis
Author(s) -
Gunnarsson M.,
Stigbrand T.,
Jensen P. E. H.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0404.2000.102006406.x
Subject(s) - macroglobulin , antibody , multiple sclerosis , alpha 2 macroglobulin , monoclonal antibody , methylamine , chemistry , medicine , immunology , biochemistry
We report on a patient with primary progressive multiple sclerosis who was found to present α 2 ‐macroglobulin with aberrant immunochemical properties. α 2 ‐macroglobulin was purified from plasma and investigated in ELISA using highly conformation specific monoclonal antibodies. The purified α 2 ‐macroglobulin displayed reactivity with antibodies specific for binding to native α 2 ‐macroglobulin as well as with antibodies specific for binding to transformed α 2 ‐macroglobulin. Furthermore, following methylamine treatment, α 2 ‐macroglobulin from the multiple sclerosis patient presented a reduced shift in antibody reactivity from the native‐specific to the transformed‐specific antibodies, as compared to normal α 2 ‐macroglobulin. In conclusion, the results suggest that α 2 ‐macroglobulin from this multiple sclerosis patient presents conformational aberrations, which may have implications on the capacity to eliminate proteinases from the systemic circulation.