Serum Auto-Antibodies in Neurological Diseases (SAA)

April 6, 2023 updated by: University of California, Davis

CCRC: Serum Auto-Antibodies in Neurological Disease

Under normal conditions our immune system protects us against infections and tumors. The immune system does this by recognizing that the infecting organism or the tumor is foreign to the body and attacking it. One way the immune system attacks a foreign target is by making proteins called antibodies that bind to the target. Sometimes, for reasons we poorly understand, the immune system wrongly identifies part of our own body as being foreign and attacks it. This can result in disease such as some forms of diabetes and thyroid disease, as well as some neurological diseases. In this study, one tablespoon of blood will be removed from each subject and tested to see if the immune system is making antibodies against components of the nerves and muscles. We also hope to learn if these antibodies contribute to the development or worsening of illnesses of the nervous system. Only one blood draw is required, but subjects may be asked to give up to 8 additional blood samples to see if the level of antibodies changes over time. Any additional blood draws would be performed at regularly scheduled clinic visits. There would be at least 3 months between blood draws over a period of up to 3 years, if requested by the physician.

Depending on your diagnosis, the physician may also request the collection of mouth (buccal) cells. This takes about one minute and is painless. The cells are collected by swishing a swab around your mouth. This cheek swab would be done with each blood draw.

Please note that this study is conducted ONLY at UC Davis and that all participants must be seen in our clinic located in Sacramento, CA. Results of the testing performed in this study are not given to the participants. This study is not intended to treat or diagnose any condition.

Study Overview

Status

Enrolling by invitation

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The purposes of the study are to determine the frequency of auto-antibodies to 1) heat shock proteins and 2) to other molecules including cytoskeletal proteins such as rapsyn in diseases of the nervous system.

5cc of serum will be obtained from patients with multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune and inflammatory diseases of the nervous system including myasthenia gravis and transverse myelitis and from patients with other neurological diseases. Standard methodology to assure safe handling of serum will be used. Diluted serum will be tested for specific reactivity with heat shock proteins (Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, MO) as well as with other antigens in a standard ELISA as well as immunoblot.

Buccal swab will also be obtained in conjunction with each blood draw. Rapsyn and other cytoskeletal proteins will be extracted from Torpedo californica electric organ by means of differential centrifugation followed by alkali extraction. For the ELISA, a standard titration curve will be obtained for a positive control serum as previously determined. Negative control sera will be obtained from individuals with other degenerative neurological diseases. Titers of test serum will be determined as the dilution that generates a positive result that is two standard deviations from the mean of the background. Positive ELISA results will be confirmed by immunoblot. Patients may be tested at one time point only. If the serum is positive for specific antibody binding, additional serum samples may be obtained and retested up to 8 more times approximately 3 months apart. Correlation with severity of clinical findings and specific antibody titer will be made. Severity of clinical findings will be determined by the neurological exam done by the investigator.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Anticipated)

120

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • California
      • Sacramento, California, United States, 95817
        • University of California, Davis

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients 18 years and older with multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis and other autoimmune or inflammatory neurological illnesses will be selected for participation in this study.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 18 years or older
  • Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, or other autoimmune or inflammatory neurological disease

Exclusion Criteria:

  • inability to give informed consent

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Cohort
  • Time Perspectives: Prospective

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Cohort 1
Subjects with multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune and inflammatory disease of the nervous system
Other: Blood Draw
A 5cc sample of serum will be drawn from each subject. Only one blood draw is required, but up to 8 additional blood draws can be obtained.
Other: Cheek swab
A swab will be swished around the inside of the mouth to collect mouth (buccal) cells. This will be done with each blood draw.
Other Names:
  • Buccal swab

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
If the serum is positive for specific antibody binding, additional serum samples may be obtained and retested up to 8 more times approximately 3 months apart.
Time Frame: 3 months
3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of California, Davis

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

January 1, 2002

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

March 1, 2031

Study Completion (Anticipated)

March 1, 2031

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 23, 2008

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 23, 2008

First Posted (Estimate)

June 25, 2008

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 10, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 6, 2023

Last Verified

April 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 215828

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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