Detection of anti-heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90β) antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid

Antibodies against heat shock protein 90 beta (Hsp90 beta) recognize the antigen on the cell surface of the oligodendrocyte precursor cells and cause a decrease of oligodendrocyte population in cell cultures. These antibodies have been found in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). This report describes an original and sensitive method to detect anti-Hsp90 beta antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) using a western blot procedure. We have developed the method for autoantibody detection using Hsp90 beta from cell membrane fraction instead of commercial Hsp90 beta as antigen. The presence of anti-Hsp90 beta antibodies in CSF of MS patients may play a pathogenic role in MS, and a large-scale study is needed to establish a possible diagnostic value of these antibodies in MS patients. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.