Anti-neurofascin demyelinating diseases (anti-NF diseases) refers to health conditions engendered by

auto-antibodies An autoantibody is an antibody (a type of protein) produced by the immune system that is directed against one or more of the individual's own proteins. Many autoimmune diseases (notably lupus erythematosus) are associated with such antibodies. Pr ...

against

neurofascin Neurofascin is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''NFASC'' gene. Function Neurofascin is an L1 family immunoglobulin cell adhesion molecule (see L1CAM) involved in axon subcellular targeting and synapse formation during neural develop ...

s, which can produce both central and peripheral

demyelination A demyelinating disease is any disease of the nervous system in which the myelin sheath of neurons is damaged. This damage impairs the conduction of signals in the affected nerves. In turn, the reduction in conduction ability causes deficiency i ...

. Some cases of

combined central and peripheral demyelination Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is an acquired autoimmune disease of the peripheral nervous system characterized by progressive weakness and impaired sensory function in the legs and arms. The disorder is sometimes called ...

(CCPD) could be produced by them. *

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is an acquired autoimmune disease of the peripheral nervous system characterized by progressive weakness and impaired sensory function in the legs and arms. The disorder is sometimes called c ...

: Some cases of CIDP are reported to be produced by auto-antibodies against several

proteins. These proteins are present in the neurons and four of them have been reported to produce disease: NF186, NF180, NF166 and NF155. *

Neuromyelitis optica Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), including neuromyelitis optica (NMO), are autoimmune diseases characterized by acute inflammation of the optic nerve (optic neuritis, ON) and the spinal cord (myelitis). Episodes of ON and myelitis ...

: NF auto antibodies can also appear in NMO cases. These antibodies are more related to the peripheral nervous demyelination, but they were also found in NMO. *

Multiple sclerosis Multiple (cerebral) sclerosis (MS), also known as encephalomyelitis disseminata or disseminated sclerosis, is the most common demyelinating disease, in which the insulating covers of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are damaged. This d ...

: Also antibodies against

Neurofascin Neurofascin is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''NFASC'' gene. Function Neurofascin is an L1 family immunoglobulin cell adhesion molecule (see L1CAM) involved in axon subcellular targeting and synapse formation during neural develop ...

s NF-155 can also appear in atypical

multiple sclerosis Multiple (cerebral) sclerosis (MS), also known as encephalomyelitis disseminata or disseminated sclerosis, is the most common demyelinating disease, in which the insulating covers of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are damaged. This d ...

and NF-186 could be involved in subtypes of MS yielding an intersection between both conditions. Around 10% of MS cases are now thought to be anti-NF cases.

History

The first report about a subgroup of MS patients with anti-NF and

contactin 2 Contactin-2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''CNTN2'' gene. Function The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily. It is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored neuronal membrane protein th ...

auto-antibodies was published in 2011

References

Neurological disorders {{neuroscience-stub