Detection of borrelia antigens (of the external membrane protein OspB and flagellar protein) in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with neuroborreliosis
Abstract
In 16 patients with the diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis the authors assessed the possibility of detection of specific borrelia antigens in cerebrospinal fluid. They used the method of polyacrylamide electrophoresis with subsequent Western blotting and detection of antigens using mouse monoclonal antibodies isotype IgG reacting with flagellar protein and external membrane protein OspB.
Antigen detection was compared with the presence of free specific antiborrelia antibodies or antibodies obtained from circulating immune complexes and with evidence of DNA of borrelias in cerebrospinal fluid by means of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The examined group was divided into two sub-groups.
In the first group of 8 patients with autochthonous production of specific antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid both borrelia antigens, flagellar protein and OspB were detected in two patients with negative evidence of DNA. In the second group of 8 patients where specific antibodies were not detected it proved possible to detect borrelia antigens in 4 (flagellar protein Ix, OspB 2x and both antigens Ix) mcl. 3 patients who had also a positive PCR in cerebrospinal fluid.
Altogether borrelia antigens were found m 6 patients of 16 examined, whereby antigens were detected more frequently in liquors (4x) where there were no 1x meningoradiculitis and 1x polyneuritis.