Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
8
pubmed:dateCreated
2001-1-26
pubmed:abstractText
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies penetration into myelinated peripheral nerve fibers and the widening of the peripheral myelin sheaths in anti-myelin-associated glycoprotein (anti-MAG) demyelinating IgM monoclonal polyneuropathy. Demyelinating polyneuropathy with monoclonal IgM is often associated with anti-MAG autoantibodies, which are thought to initiate the disease with IgM deposits usually present on the myelin sheaths. We analyzed nerve biopsies from 12 patients with an anti-MAG demyelinating neuropathy by confocal and electron microscopy. The total number of nerve fibers and the proportion of IgM-associated fibers were quantified after immunohistochemical staining. The affinities of IgM were examined by analyzing the binding pattern of serum IgM on normal peripheral nerve sections. Ultrastructural examinations of the biopsies showed a good correlation between in situ widened myelin sheaths and the IgM penetration level into myelinated fibers. The terminal complement complex appears not be involved in the penetration of IgM into the myelinated fibers. Our findings suggest a causative role of the IgM anti-MAG antibodies in the ultrastructural modifications of the myelin sheaths. The basement membrane and myelin components appear to be the major targets of the IgM monoclonal antibodies. However, the pathogenic mechanism whereby IgM antibodies reach their targets and induce nerve damage are still unclear.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Aug
pubmed:issn
0148-639X
pubmed:author
pubmed:copyrightInfo
Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
22
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
1030-7
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1999
pubmed:articleTitle
Anti-MAG IgM penetration into myelinated fibers correlates with the extent of myelin widening.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Research, University Hospital Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't