Neopterin, β2-Microglobulin and Carbohydrate Antigen CA-19-9 in Sporadic Adult Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Abstract

In 38 patients diagnosed as adult sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and negative for relevant anti-ganglioside, anti-borrelia or anti-Boma disease virus antibodies, we determined serum concentrations of neopterin, β2-microglobulin, immunoglobulin-G isotypes G1-G4, carbohydrate antigen CA-19-9, as well as repeated enzyme linked immuno-assay (ELISA) serum antibodies to human spuma retrovirus (HSRV, human foamy virus=HFV) envelope plus gag./capsid antigen, and competition with maedi-visna virus antibodies in an blocking ELISA. Confirmed by specific HFV-gag immunoblots and measured under code, 26% of tested ALS-patients and 4% of 195 other neurological controls reacted ELISA and immunoblot antibody-positive against HFV. In a maedi-visna virus blocking ELISA, 47/50 sera from 28/30 ALS patients competed with anti-visna lentivirus antibodies more than healthy controls (p<0.05). In serum, however, β2-microglobulin and neopterin concentrations were normal in different stages of motor neuron disease. Maximal individual mean values for serum CA-19-9, anti-visna competition or circulating IgG immune complexes associated with positive serum antibodies against human recombinant foamy retroviral antigen, while macrophage activation measured as serum neopterin did not. © 1993, Walter de Gruyter. All rights reserved.