A role of autoimmune mechanisms in ichemic brain damage

The concentration of neurospecific proteins possessing neurotrophic properties (S100 beta and basic myelin protein - BMP), neurotrophine (nerve growth factor, NGF) and also titres of priumary and secondary antibodies in CSF and sera were measured in 25 patients with ischemic stroke in internal carotid territory and in sera of 40 patients with chronic cerebrovascular disease (cerebrovascular atherosclerosis and hypertonic encephalopathy). In stroke patients, several hours after onset, the titre of secondary antibodies to S100 beta and BMP was measured as elevated in serum (especially in atherotrombotic stroke) what witnesses for preformed sensibilization of brain tissue to neurospeciphic proteins. However, elevation of primary antibodies titre to NGF was registered only in CSF (they were normal in sera). NGF concentrations and secondary antibodies titre significantly correlated with stroke severity (correlation coefficients in relation to total clinical degree +0,42 and -0,78 respectively) what envisages grave prognostic importance. We revealed chronic autoimmunization to structural components of brain tissue in patients with chronic cerebrovascular disease). The ratio of primary/secondary antibodies to S100 beta and BMP titres reflects the acuteness of antibody formation as and may support the suggestion about changes in blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability. We failed to reveal sensibilization to NGF in chronic cerebrovascular disease what may explain that there was no neurological deficit in these patients. Neuroprotective therapy with glycine (600 mg/day) administered to patients with chronic cerebrovascular disease, appeared to improve clinincal status and antibody concentration in sera. We suppose that such a therapy may be beneficial as preventive.