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Selective Complexing of Acetylcholinesterase in Brain by Intravenously Administered Monoclonal Antibody
Author(s) -
Brimijoin Stephen,
Balm Michael,
Hammond Pamela,
Len Vanda A.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1990.tb13306.x
Subject(s) - acetylcholinesterase , butyrylcholinesterase , cholinergic , central nervous system , aché , medicine , chemistry , endocrinology , monoclonal antibody , pharmacology , antibody , immunology , biochemistry , enzyme
Rats injected intravenously with monoclonal antibodies reactive with brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) developed a prolonged depression of plasma AChE without changes in butyrylcholinesterase, lactic acid dehydrogenase, or hematocrit. One antibody, ZR1, accumulated in the brain and spinal cord. Within 3 days of injection, ZR1 bound to most of the AChE in cerebral cortex and certain other regions of the CNS. Examination of the molecular forms of cortical AChE showed that antibody binding in vivo was selective for 10S AChE, whereas 4S AChE remained free. In vitro, however, ZRI bound equally to solubilized 4S and 10S forms. These data provide direct evidence for the compartmentalization of different AChE forms in the CNS, 10S being mainly extracellular and 4S apparently intracellular. Development of a striking and persistent bilateral ptosis within hours of injection suggests that AChE in the autonomic nervous system is also accessible to antibodies and, furthermore, is the site of an immunopathological lesion. This novel model of cholinergic autoimmunity may have relevance for human neurological disorders of unknown etiology.