Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

2023

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Wei, Jianning

Thesis/Dissertation Co-Chair

Hartmann, James

Abstract

Kleine-Levin Syndrome (KLS) is an extremely rare neurological disorder characterized by episodes of uncontrollable hypersomnia and various cognitive and behavioral abnormalities. There is neither a definitive etiology nor definite treatment modalities. Immunological studies for this condition are extremely limited, and this present study aims to investigate a potential autoimmune mechanism that underlies KLS. To achieve this, western blot and dot-blot assays analyzed the immunoreactivity of patients and control sera towards various brain tissue areas. Western blot did not show immunoreactivity with IgG-depleted brain tissue lysate. However, dot-blot assays revealed a significantly greater level of immunoreactivity with KLS patient sera towards the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, hypothalamus, and parieto-temporal areas compared to KLS-negative sera. These areas have previously been shown to be hypo-perfused in KLS patients. Future studies are necessary to identify the specific antibodies that may be autoreactive in KLS patients.

Extent

69 p.

Comments

Includes bibliography.|Thesis (MS)--Florida Atlantic University, 2023.|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Includes bibliography.

Identifier

FA00014359

Format

pdf

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