Lymphocytotoxic and monocytotoxic antibodies in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of multiple sclerosis patients.
Serum cold cytotoxic antibodies (CA), detected at 15 degrees C using a microcytotoxicity technique, were present in 12 of 21 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, weak or absent in 6 neurological patients without MS and present but weak in 5 out of 32 healthy controls. In MS, these cold CA were directed against 3 distinct cellular populations: total lymphocytes, B lymphocytes and monocytes; certain antibody tests were positive at 37 degrees C; no correlation between CA and clinical disease was observed. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) antibody levels were high in both MS and non-MS patients and at 37 degrees C produced lysis of monocytes in the absence of complement. These antibodies may be normal CSF constituents. Our results suggest that there may be 3 different antibodies and that they may play a role in immunomodulation, especially in MS.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000032:analysis* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003080:Cold Temperature; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000276:immunology*
D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum