Autoimmunity in multiple sclerosis: study of a wide spectrum of autoantibodies

The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of organ- and nonorgan-specific autoantibodies in MS patients and evaluate whether the presence of autoantibodies is an indicator of disease activity and/or a prognosis factor. One hundred and five definite MS patients in different stages and with different course and 75 blood donors were tested for the autoantibodies TgA, TMA/TPO-A, PCA, ANA, aCl, SMA, AMA and ANCA. All patients were screened for the LAC. Autoantibodies to at least one autoantigen were found in 66.6% MS patients and in 13.3% controls (P < 0.001). The frequency of TgA, TMA/TPO-A, ANA, aCl and SMA was statistically higher in patients than in controls. Circulating ANCAs were found in seven MS, a never reported finding. An early onset of MS (< 20 years) was associated with a lower autoantibody frequency (P < 0.01) Primary and secondary progressive MS had a higher antibody frequency than relapsing-remitting (P < 0.05) or benign (P < 0.001) MS. Up to 86% of patients were autoantibody-positive during the acute stage, but only 30% of them remained positive during the remission stage (P < 0.001). A generalised immune dysregulation occurs in MS patients, mostly during the acute stages and in the progressive courses, involving activation of both autoreactive Th1-cells (mainly linked to CNS lesions) and B-cells via Th2 cells.