March 2000, Volume 2, Issue 1, Pages 37 - 41

Article

Detection of neurofilament autoantibodies in human serum following chemically induced neurologic disorder: a case report MOHAMED B. ABOU-DONIA1 & LORNE K. GARRETTSON2 1Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710     2Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30303     Correspondence to: MOHAMED B. ABOU-DONIA, Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710. Tel.: (919)684-2221. Fax: (919)681-8224. E-mail: donia@acpub.duke.edu

Keywords

autoantibodies;   chlorpyrifos;   neurofilaments;   organophosphates

Abstract

Sera obtained from a 5-year-old patient who was exposed to tar and the insecticide, chlorpyrifos (O,O-diethyl 3,5,6-trichloropyridinyl phosphorothioate), and subsequently developed neurologic deficits consistent with organophosphorus ester-induced delayed neurotoxicity (OPIDN) and from normal healthy controls (members of his family) were assayed by Western blotting for the presence of autoantibodies against the three neurofilament proteins: 200-kDa, outer- or high- molecular-weight (NFH); 160-kDa, middle-molecular-weight (NFM); and 68-kDa, core- or low-molecular-weight (NFL) subunits. High levels of autoantibodies against the NFH and NFM of the neurofilament proteins were detected in the exposed patient's serum. Traces of autoantibodies for NFH were detected in three control sera but those of NFM were detected in two controls only. In summary, the results suggest that chemically induced neurologic disorders such as OPIDN induce an autoantibody response against NFH and NFM components of the neurofilament triplet proteins. Environmental Epidemiology and Toxicology (2000) 2, 37-41.

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