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- Title
Glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies and neurological disorders.
- Authors
Vianello, M; Tavolato, B; Giometto, B
- Abstract
Glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) is the enzyme that catalyses the production of GABA, a major neurotransmitter of the central nervous system. Antibodies to GAD (GAD-Ab) were first recognised in a patient affected by stiff-person syndrome; subsequently they were reported in a large number of cases with type 1 diabetes. Recently GAD-Ab have been described in a number of patients affected by chronic cerebellar ataxia, drug-resistant epilepsy and myoclonus. These cases usually harbour other autoantibodies or are affected by organ-specific autoimmune diseases. The role of GAD-Ab is still unclear; the lack of experimental models makes it difficult to investigate their potential pathogenetic role. However two mechanisms have been suggested: the reduction by GAD-Ab of GABA synthesis in nerve terminals or the interference with exocytosis of GABA.
- Publication
Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology, 2002, Vol 23, Issue 4, p145
- ISSN
1590-1874
- Publication type
Journal Article
- DOI
10.1007/s100720200055