title: Quantified CSF antibody reactivity against myelin in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Synthesis of clonal IgG is a consistent feature of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Whether oligoclonal bands (OCBs) represent unspecific disease bystanders or active components in MS pathology is an open question. The aim of this study was to develop a method to quantify and compare the reactivity of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) antibodies from patients with and without MS.
  
  
  
  We collected CSF from 262 patients from two different cohorts, which included 148 patients with MS and 114 with other neurological diseases (OND). We established a highly sensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL)-based assay to measure CSF antibody reactivity against purified myelin particles and biotin anchored liposomes. The diagnostic value of the ECL score against myelin particles was assessed with receiver operating characteristic curves.
  
  
  
  CSF from patients with MS have higher reactivity toward purified myelin particles as compared to those with OND with OCBs. Using liposomes with defined lipid compositions and myelin particles from ceramide synthase 2 (CerS2) knockout mice, we find that some of the CSF antibody reactivity is directed against cerebrosides.
  
  
  
  The ECL-based assay system expands the currently available toolbox for the detection of autoantibodies in MS and related diseases.
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine Göttingen 37075 Germany; Department of Neurology University of Göttingen Göttingen 37075 Germany.
authors.forename: Xingwen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine Göttingen 37075 Germany; Department of Neurology University of Göttingen Göttingen 37075 Germany; Institute of Diabetes and Regeneration Research Helmholtz Zentrum München Neuherberg Germany.
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bakhti
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine Göttingen 37075 Germany; Department of Neurology University of Göttingen Göttingen 37075 Germany.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fitzner
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine Göttingen 37075 Germany; Department of Neurology University of Göttingen Göttingen 37075 Germany.
authors.forename: Mareike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schnaars
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropathology University of Göttingen Göttingen 37075 Germany.
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kruse
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Membrane Biochemistry Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus at the TU Dresden Fetscherstrasse 74 Dresden 01307 Germany; German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) Dresden Germany; Max Planck Institute of Cell Biology and Genetics Dresden 01307 Germany.
authors.forename: Ünal
authors.initials: Ü
authors.lastname: Coskun
authors.affiliation: Molecular Genetics, Life and Medical Sciences Institute University of Bonn Carl-Troll-Strasse 31 Bonn 53115 Germany.
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kremser
authors.affiliation: Molecular Genetics, Life and Medical Sciences Institute University of Bonn Carl-Troll-Strasse 31 Bonn 53115 Germany.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Willecke
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neurology and Biomedicine University Hospital Basel Basel 4031 Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ludwig
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kappos
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neurology and Biomedicine University Hospital Basel Basel 4031 Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kuhle
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine Göttingen 37075 Germany; Department of Neurology University of Göttingen Göttingen 37075 Germany.
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simons