Neuron-specific enolase antibodies in patients with sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome

Western blot patterns of serum autoantibodies against optic nerve antigens in dogs with goniodysgenesis-related glaucoma

“…Like Gilmour et al 60 and Braus et al, 62 we did not detect any bands on our negative control strips, which were also incubated with goat anti-dog IgG. Therefore, this band is unlikely to represent IgG present in our antigen source.…”

“…16–22 In dogs, western blots have been used to screen for retinal autoantibodies in those with SARDS. 60–62 Use of a western blot–based technique has also been reported once in dogs with glaucoma, although detailed results were not reported. 35 To our knowledge, the present study is the first to provide a comprehensive description of western blot–derived autoantibody profiles in dogs with GDRG.…”

“…Both canine serum and the purified anti-dog IgG secondary antibody were reactive against this IgG fragment, thereby explaining the appearance of the band on the negative control strips. 61 Finally, Braus et al 62 identified a band at 47 kDa that was present in serum from dogs with SARDS but not in serum from clinically normal dogs or on negative control strips. This band was subsequently identified as neuron-specific enolase.…”

Optical coherence tomography and molecular analysis of sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome (SARDS) eyes suggests the immune‐mediated nature of retinal damage

“…The frequent presence of endocrine and metabolic abnormalities in this patient population was used to raise speculations toward a possible toxic, endocrine, or neuroendocrine etiology, while limited histological and molecular evaluation has revealed the presence of photoreceptor apoptosis with a possible suggestion of a steroid‐induced toxic form of retinal damage . However, the limited histological and molecular data available from several studies revealed presence of serum retinal autoantibodies, increased complement activation, presence of immunoglobulin producing B‐cells, presence of T‐cells, and upregulation of genes mediating increased immune and inflammatory response in SARDS eyes, potentially suggestive of the autoimmune nature of the disease . Considering the widespread depression of retinal electrical activity, which does not correspond to funduscopic retinal changes or OCT structural deficits, we speculate that the potential target of the primary immune insult in SARDS eyes is the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE).…”

Anti–γ-Enolase Autoimmune Retinopathy Manifesting in Early Childhood

“…Braus and colleagues studied the antibody profile of a cohort of dogs diagnosed with SARDS and found that 25% had strong binding of IgG to NSE. None of the 13 control animals showed any serum reactivity to NSE 26 . This is also consistent with a study by Maruyama and colleagues who injected anti-NSE serum into the vitreous of Lewis rats and found a lowering of the ERG b-wave amplitude in the treated eyes 27 .…”