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26 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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MBP
myelin basic protein
Chromosome 18 · 18q23
NCBI Gene: 4155Ensembl: ENSG00000197971.16HGNC: HGNC:6925UniProt: P02686
250PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
myelin assemblycalmodulin bindinglipid bindingprotein-containing complexalcohol drinkingduodenal ulcerdevice complicationAbnormality of the dentition
✦AI Summary

Myelin basic protein (MBP) is a major structural component of the central nervous system myelin sheath, essential for both myelin formation and stabilization 1. The classic MBP isoforms constitute one of the most abundant proteins in CNS myelin, while smaller isoforms may facilitate remyelination of demyelinated axons. Non-classic isoforms (Golli-MBPs) function in early brain development and immune signaling, with MBP capable of inducing T-cell proliferation 2. MBP's clinical significance centers on multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis. MBP serves as a potential autoantigen in MS, with T cells and antibodies from MS patients recognizing specific MBP epitopes through cross-reactivity mechanisms 31. Anti-MBP antibodies display remarkable substrate specificity, cleaving MBP at multiple sites with approximately 1000-fold higher affinity for intact MBP than oligopeptide substrates 45. In experimental models, altered MBP peptide ligands suppress experimental allergic encephalomyelitis, a demyelinating disease model of MS 2. Recent evidence suggests MBP elevation correlates with neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative conditions; elevated MBP levels in alpha-synuclein pathology models correlated positively with microglial and astroglial activation markers 6. While MBP's direct role as a primary MS antigen remains unclear, its structural complexity and central involvement in myelin maintenance establish it as a key factor linking nervous system development to neurodegenerative disease.

Sources cited
1
MBP is an abundant CNS myelin protein linked to MS pathogenesis, CNS inflammation, demyelination, and axonal loss; discusses MBP as potential autoantigen and molecular mimicry with viral antigens
PMID: 34889995
2
MBP peptide 87-99 is immunodominant in MS; MBP induces T-cell proliferation; altered peptide ligands suppress EAE and decrease spinal cord inflammation
PMID: 11784132
3
MBP-reactive T cells from MS patients recognize both mouse and human MBP; multiple human MBP epitopes show cross-reactivity across species
PMID: 7507496
4
Anti-MBP antibodies from SLE patients cleave MBP with high specificity at multiple sites; demonstrate ~1000-fold higher affinity for intact MBP versus oligopeptides
PMID: 23520443
5
Quantitative analysis of anti-MBP IgG recognition showing stepwise ligand complexity interactions; intact MBP demonstrates 192-fold higher affinity than oligopeptides
PMID: 28470769
6
MBP levels elevated in alpha-synuclein pathology model; positive correlation between MBP expression and inflammatory markers (Iba1, GFAP), implicating MBP in neuroinflammation pathogenesis
PMID: 40336104
Disease Associationsⓘ20
alcohol drinkingOpen Targets
0.39Weak
duodenal ulcerOpen Targets
0.30Weak
device complicationOpen Targets
0.29Weak
Abnormality of the dentitionOpen Targets
0.29Weak
preeclampsiaOpen Targets
0.28Weak
HepatitisOpen Targets
0.26Weak
placenta praeviaOpen Targets
0.25Weak
pericarditisOpen Targets
0.20Weak
experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitisOpen Targets
0.11Weak
myeloid sarcomaOpen Targets
0.11Weak
overactive bladderOpen Targets
0.11Weak
Alzheimer diseaseOpen Targets
0.11Weak
melanomaOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
neoplasmOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
rheumatoid arthritisOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
subarachnoid hemorrhageOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
mucous membrane pemphigoidOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
multiple system atrophyOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
benign adult familial myoclonic epilepsyOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
schizophreniaOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
CALML4Protein interaction100%CALML5Protein interaction100%CALML6Protein interaction100%MAPK14Protein interaction100%CALML3Protein interaction99%SLC26A3Protein interaction99%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Brain
100%
Bone Marrow
4%
Heart
2%
Liver
1%
Lung
1%
Ovary
1%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
MBPCALML4CALML5CALML6MAPK14CALML3SLC26A3
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
PDB1FV1 · 1.90 Å · X-ray
View on RCSB ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
0.68LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.11Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.44 [0.29–0.68]
RankingsWhere MBP stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #1,539of 20,598
    Most Researched250 · top 10%
  • #5,015of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)0.68
Genes detectedMBP
Sources retrieved26 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
26▼
1
Oligodendrocyte-specific overexpression of human alpha-synuclein results in elevated MBP levels and inflammatory responses in TgM83 mice, mimicking the pathological features of multiple system atrophy.
PMID: 40336104
Acta Neuropathol Commun · 2025
1.00
2
Multiple sites of the cleavage of 21- and 25-mer encephalytogenic oligopeptides corresponding to human myelin basic protein (MBP) by specific anti-MBP antibodies from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
PMID: 23520443
PLoS One · 2013
0.90
3
Antagonistic effects of human cyclic MBP(87-99) altered peptide ligands in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis and human T-cell proliferation.
PMID: 11784132
J Med Chem · 2002
0.80
4
How human IgGs against myelin basic protein (MBP) recognize oligopeptides and MBP.
PMID: 28470769
J Mol Recognit · 2017
0.70
5
Panax ginseng methabolit (GIM-1) prevents oxidative stress and apoptosis in human Sertoli cells exposed to Monobutyl-phthalate (MBP).
PMID: 30965081
Reprod Toxicol · 2019
0.68