Background of the antigen
Neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinose (NCL), also designated Batten disease, comprises a group of recessively inherited, progressive neurodegenerative diseases found in children. NCL is characterized by atrophy of the brain and an accumulation of lysosome derived fluorescent bodies found in many cells, especially neurons. Symptoms of NCL include a failure of psychomotor development, seizures, impaired vision and premature death. The eight genes/proteins associated with NCL are designated CLN1-CLN8. Mutations in six of these genes results in a distinct type of NCL-disease; the six genes/proteins are CLN1 (encoding PPT1, a protein thiolesterase), CLN2 (encodeing the serine protease TPP1), CLN3, CLN5, CLN6 and CLN8. A single base duplication mutation in dog and cow CLN5 has been shown to cause NCL.
