Autoantibodies against vinculin in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy

• We screened serum IgGs from CIDP patients for autoantibodies against PNS proteins.
• Anti-vinculin serum titer was elevated in two patients with similar disease phenotypes.
• Autoimmunity against Schwann cell vinculin may contribute to CIDP.

To identify the target molecules of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), we used proteomic-based approach in the extracted proteins from porcine cauda equina. Two of 31 CIDP patients had markedly elevated serum autoantibodies against vinculin, a cell adhesion protein. Both of the patients with anti-vinculin antibodies had similar clinical manifestation, which are compatible with those of “typical” CIDP. Immunocytochemistry showed that vinculin was stained at the myelin sheath of the sciatic nerves by serum samples. Our results suggest that vinculin is a possible immunological target molecule in a subpopulation of typical CIDP patients.