Novartis Vaccine and Diagnostics

[kim]

Protein array profiling of tic patient sera reveals a broad range and enhanced immune response against Group A Streptococcus antigens.

 

Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, Siena, Italy.

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1962325...ogdbfrom=pubmed

 

 

This comparative analysis identified 25 antigens recognized by sera of the three patient groups and 21 antigens recognized by tic and pharyngitis sera, but poorly or not recognized by sera from children without tic. Interestingly, these antigens appeared to be, in quantitative terms, more immunogenic in tic than in pharyngitis patients. Additionally, a third group of antigens appeared to be preferentially and specifically recognized by tic sera. These findings provide the first evidence that tic patient sera exhibit immunological profiles typical of individuals who elicited a broad, specific and strong immune response against GAS. This may be relevant in the context of one of the hypothesis proposing that GAS antigen-dependent induction of autoantibodies in susceptible individuals may be involved the occurrence of tic disorders.