Measles virus polypeptide-specific antibody profile in multiple sclerosis.
Elevated antibody (Ab) titers to measles virus (MV) is a frequent finding in MS. Although MV-Abs are synthesized intrathecally, it is not known whether this is due to polyclonal activation of B cells recruited from the blood, recognition of MV antigens within the CNS, or cross-reactivity with myelin antigens. This study examined these possibilities using purified MV polypeptides. We examined Ab reactivity to each polypeptide in serum and CSF from 21 MS patients, 5 with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), and 11 patients with other neurologic diseases (OND), and serum from 5 patients with acute MV infection and 11 normal controls. The serum of all subjects tested contained reactivity with MV and the 5 polypeptides. Of 21 MS patients, 20 had CSF reactivity with MV compared with 3/11 ONDs and 5/5 SSPE patients. Intrathecal MV-Ab synthesis was present in 11/21 MS patients, 5/5 SSPE, and in none of the ONDs. Nine of 21 MS patients had intrathecal synthesis of Ab to 2 MV polypeptides. Serum and CSF reactivity in MS patients was skewed towards the F polypeptide. The results are consistent with the concept of polyclonal B cell activation within the CNS, but the heightened response to F could also reflect cross-reactivity with a relevant antigen in MS.
Dhib-Jalbut
S
S
Neuroimmunology Branch, NINDS, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Lewis
K
K
Bradburn
E
E
McFarlin
D E
DE
McFarland
H F
HF
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002213:Capsid / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D006801:Humans; D008457:Measles / Q000276:immunology; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009185:Myelin Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000276:immunology; D013344:Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis / Q000276:immunology; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral; D009185:Myelin Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins