Accession Number:

AD1028765

Title:

Novel Autoantibody Serum and Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers in Veterans with Gulf War Illness

Descriptive Note:

Technical Report,30 Sep 2015,29 Sep 2016

Corporate Author:

Duke University Medical Center Durham United States

Personal Author(s):

• Abou-Donia,Mohamed B.

Report Date:

2016-10-01

Pagination or Media Count:

13.0

Abstract:

The purpose of this project is to develop objective peripheral biomarkers for Gulf War Illness GWI. We plan to determine circulating autoantibodies to ten proteins associated with the central nervous system in sera and plasma from a group of 250 Gulf War veterans with Gulf War Illness GWI and from 200 controls 100 healthy GW controls, 100 disease controls. Preliminary results using Western blot assay showed increased levels of autoantibodies in GWI cases compared to symptomatic controls in the following descending order CaMKII GFAP Tau Tubulin MAG MAP-2 MBP NFP S100B ranging from 2-8 fold higher. These results confirm the continuing presence of autoantibodies against neuronal gliosis in these veterans and are in agreement with recent reports indicating that 25 years after the war, the health of veterans with GWI is not improving and maybe getting worse. Such blood-based autoantibodies may prove useful as biomarkers of GWI, upon validation of the findings using larger cohorts.

Descriptors:

• OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
• CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME
• VETERANS MILITARY PERSONNEL
• central nervous system
• antibodies
• BLOOD SERUM

Subject Categories:

• Medicine and Medical Research

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE