Transglutaminases in children with cerebral palsy (CP)

In our previous studies we found a high frequency of children with antibodies to Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) compared to controls. Transglutaminases (TG) are a family of structurally and functionally related crosslinking enzymes consisting of nine members TG1-7, protein 4.2 without enzymatic activity, and factor XIII A. The enzyme TG 2 is a ubiquitous enzyme with many functions in the body.It is best known in the connection with the gut and is directly involved in Celiac Disease (CD) development by generation of T cell epitopes that drive the immune response. It can also be found in neurodegenerative processes. Transglutaminase 6 expression is associated with neurogenesis in CNS development and in the mature brain in mice, in neurons in regions associated with motor function including the cerebral cortex and cerebellum. Antibodies against this enzyme have been found in adult patients with ataxia. It has also been found significantly in the tetraplegic subtype of CP in children in our previous studies. There is not much known about the other family members of transglutaminases. Testing of the antibodies against various transglutaminases are mostly done by ELISA-analyses.  A new technique has been established at Karolinska Institutet (Prof. Olle Kämpe) where in vitro transcription could be a more sensitive method in identifying antibodies (IgG) against members of the transglutamase family.

Our main goal is to analyse antibodies against transglutaminases in previous collected sera, from children with CP.

Comparison will be made by the ELISA-data of antibodies against TG and the clinical data of the CP-patients.