A synthetic glycopeptide of human myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein to detect antibody responses in multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases.

Glycopeptides of hMOG(30–50) containing a glucosyl moiety on the side-chains of Asn, Ser or Hyp at position 31 were synthesised. Antibody titres to hMOG(30–50) and to its glucoderivatives were measured by ELISA in sera of patients affected by different neurological diseases. Anti-hMOG(30–50) antibodies were detected only using the glycopeptide [Asn31(N-Glc)]hMOG(30–50). The glycopeptide [Asn31(N-Glc)]hMOG(30–50) is the first specific antigen able to identify anti-hMOG(30–50) antibodies [hMOG(30–50), human myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein 30–50] in sera of patients affected by different neurological diseases. On the contrary, [Ser31(O-Glc)]hMOG(30–50) and [Hyp31(O-Glc)]hMOG(30–50) did not allow the antibody recognition.