This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Reiber, H Articles by Jacobi, C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Reiber, H Articles by Jacobi, C. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

The intrathecal, polyspecific and oligoclonal immune response in multiple sclerosis

Neurochemisches Labor der Neurologischen Klinik, Universität Göttingen, D-37075 Göttingen, Germany

S Ungefehr

Neurochemisches Labor der Neurologischen Klinik, Universität Göttingen, D-37075 Göttingen, Germany

Chr Jacobi

Neurochemisches Labor der Neurologischen Klinik, Universität Göttingen, D-37075 Göttingen, Germany

We report an extended set of neuroimmunological data detected in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from n=267 patients with definite multiple sclerosis (MS). Known frequencies of oligoclonal IgG (98%), frequencies of intrathecal fractions of IgG, IgA and IgM (72%, 9% and 20%, respectively) were confirmed and quantitated as intrathecal fractions, Ig_IF or CSF concentrations, Ig_Loc. Eighty-nine per cent of the patients had a combined `MRZ-reaction', i.e. intrathecal antibody synthesis (Antibody Index, AI > 1.4) against measles, rubella and/or varicella zoster virus. Frequencies of single antibodies decreased from measles (78%) to rubella (60%), VZV (55%) and HSV (28%). This MRZ-reaction, indicating a chronic autoimmune type disease already at time of first clinical symptoms, is less sensitive but more specific than detection of oligoclonal IgG. With increasing intrathecal IgG synthesis the number of different locally synthesized antibody species were increased as well as the amount per species (increased mean AI values). The concentration of MRZ antibodies in CSF represents together about 2% of intrathecally synthesized total IgG. But, as a very particular result the ratio of intrathecally synthesized specific antibody/intrathecally synthesized JgG was 5-fold higher (0.24-0.85%) compared to the corresponding ratio in blood (0.06-0.17%) of MS patients. This difference between brain ratio and blood ratio is discussed to be indicative for the anti-MRZ antibody forming B-lymphocyte subset in blood migrating into brain at earlier time of pathophysiological start of disease. These results give a concise explanation of neuroimmunological aspects in MS, not understood so far.

Key Words: measles- • rubella- • varicella zoster- • HSV- • toxoplasma-antibodies • intrathecal immune response • IgG • IgA • IgM • neuroimmunology

Multiple Sclerosis, Vol. 4, No. 3, 111-117 (1998)
DOI: 10.1177/135245859800400304


CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. A. Farrell, D. Antony, G. R. Wall, D. A. Clark, L. Fisniku, J. Swanton, Z. Khaleeli, K. Schmierer, D. H. Miller, and G. Giovannoni Humoral immune response to EBV in multiple sclerosis is associated with disease activity on MRI Neurology, July 7, 2009; 73(1): 32 - 38. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S Jarius, D Franciotta, R Bergamaschi, S Rauer, K P Wandinger, H F Petereit, M Maurer, H Tumani, A Vincent, P Eichhorn, et al. Polyspecific, antiviral immune response distinguishes multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, October 1, 2008; 79(10): 1134 - 1136. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Keir, S. Barrio, and E. J Thompson Discrepancies between qualitative and quantitative analysis of cerebrospinal fluid IgG: densitometric comparison of nephelometry-silver versus immuno-enzymes Ann Clin Biochem, July 1, 2008; 45(4): 404 - 408. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D Buljevac, G J J van Doornum, H Z Flach, J Groen, A D M E Osterhaus, W Hop, P A van Doorn, F G A van der Meche, and R Q Hintzen Epstein-Barr virus and disease activity in multiple sclerosis J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, October 1, 2005; 76(10): 1377 - 1381. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. S. Freedman, E. J. Thompson, F. Deisenhammer, G. Giovannoni, G. Grimsley, G. Keir, S. Ohman, M. K. Racke, M. Sharief, C. J. M. Sindic, et al. Recommended Standard of Cerebrospinal Fluid Analysis in the Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis: A Consensus Statement Arch Neurol, June 1, 2005; 62(6): 865 - 870. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Pohl, K. Rostasy, H. Reiber, and F. Hanefeld CSF characteristics in early-onset multiple sclerosis Neurology, November 23, 2004; 63(10): 1966 - 1967. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Rostasy, H. Reiber, D. Pohl, P. Lange, A. Ohlenbusch, H. Eiffert, M. Maass, and F. Hanefeld Chlamydia pneumoniae in children with MS: Frequency and quantity of intrathecal antibodies Neurology, July 8, 2003; 61(1): 125 - 128. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Derfuss, R. Gurkov, F. Then Bergh, N. Goebels, M. Hartmann, C. Barz, B. Wilske, I. Autenrieth, M. Wick, R. Hohlfeld, et al. Intrathecal antibody production against Chlamydia pneumoniae in multiple sclerosis is part of a polyspecific immune response Brain, July 1, 2001; 124(7): 1325 - 1335. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]