Persistent anti-myelin basic protein IgG antibody response in multiple sclerosis cerebrospinal fluid

Area of Science:

• Neuroimmunology
• Autoimmunity
• Central Nervous System (CNS) Diseases

Background:

• Antibodies to myelin components, like myelin basic protein (MBP), are implicated in multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis.
• Previous studies on anti-MBP antibodies in MS have yielded inconsistent results.
• Enumerating antibody-secreting cells offers a novel approach to assess antibody responses, accounting for localization and reducing binding artifacts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the presence and persistence of anti-MBP IgG antibody-secreting cells in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.
• To compare the frequency and dynamics of anti-MBP IgG antibody-secreting cells in MS with other inflammatory neurological diseases (OIND) and tension headache.
• To evaluate the association of anti-MBP IgG antibody-secreting cells with clinical parameters in MS.

Main Methods:

• Quantification of anti-MBP IgG antibody-secreting cells in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood of patients with MS, OIND, and tension headache using enumeration techniques.
• Longitudinal follow-up of anti-MBP IgG antibody-secreting cell counts in MS and OIND patients.
• Correlation analysis between anti-MBP IgG antibody-secreting cell levels and clinical data (exacerbation, disability, duration) in MS.

Main Results:

• Anti-MBP IgG antibody-secreting cells were detected in the CSF of MS patients (1 per 833 cells, ~2454 in total CSF).
• Similar cell counts were found in OIND, but these decreased during follow-up, while persisting in MS.
• These cells were rare in tension headache patients and infrequent in blood samples from MS and OIND patients. No clinical correlations were observed.
• The anti-MBP antibody response was predominantly of the IgG isotype.

Conclusions:

• The presence of persistent, CSF-compartmentalized anti-MBP IgG antibody-secreting cells in MS suggests a significant role in the disease's immunopathogenesis.
• The compartmentalization and persistence of this specific antibody response highlight its potential importance in the development and maintenance of MS.
• This approach provides a more robust measure of specific antibody activity within the CNS compared to direct antibody level measurements.