Three proteins identified in HAM

Scientists have used quantitative analysis processes to determine the cause of a disease which closely resembles chronic spinal forms of multiple sclerosis (MS).

In a study published by Retrovirology, a team from Centre for Bioinformatics at Imperial College, London, sought to understand the pathogenesis of a disease called HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM), of which human T lymphotropic virus Type 1 (HTLV-1) plays a role.

The scientists used quantitative analysis processes to identify the pathogenetic mechanisms by comparing the plasma proteome in asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers (ACs), patients with HAM, uninfected controls and patients with MS.

Using surface-enhanced laser desorption-ionisation (SELDI) mass spectrometry, the team analysed the plasma proteome in 68 HTLV-1-infected individuals (in two non-overlapping sets, each comprising 17 patients with HAM and 17 ACs), 16 uninfected controls, and 11 patients with secondary progressive MS.

The study found that three plasma proteins were specifically associated with HAM, namely high [beta2-microglobulin], high [Calgranulin B], and low [apolipoprotein A2].