Myelin Proteolipid Protein PLP
PLP plays important roles
Proteolipid protein (PLP) and its DM20 isoform are the major membrane proteins of CNS myelin. PLP/DM20 play important roles in the formation of the intraperiod line and in maintaining axonal integrity. They are also involved in the early stages of axon-oligodendrocyte interaction and wrapping of the axon.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an auto-immune disease in which the target antigen has not been identified yet. In this demyelinating disease, PLP as well as MBP (Myelin Binding Protein) and MOG (Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein) are potential primary encephalitogenic target antigens.
Monitoring autoantibodies to PLP, MBP and/or MOG is a useful tool to study the disease, its progression as well as the effect of potential inhibitors. AnaSpec (Eurogentec's US subsidiary) was pioneer in developing proprietary ELISA Assay Kits for such autoantibodies, including the assays for anti-PLP (139-151) IgG and anti-PLP (178-191) IgG.
Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
A well-established animal model of MS is Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE), an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the CNS mostly induced in mice and rats. The most commonly used antigens are the PLP, MBP or MOG recombinant proteins, or peptides thereof. These antigens all lead to distinct EAE models with their own disease specificities. PLP (139-151), PLP (178-191), MBP (69-85) and MOG (35-55) have all proved efficient as EAE antigens.
References
- Yool, D. et al. J. Neurosci. Res. 63, 151 (2001);
- Woodward K. and S. Malcolm, Trends Genet 15, 125 (1999).