Related Experiment Videos
Degradation of human myelin in vitro by leucocytes from patients with multiple sclerosis
S J Owen1, C M Watson, A N Davison
1Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Neurology, London, England, U.K.
Abstract:
In order to study the possible autoimmune basis of multiple sclerosis (MS) a quantitative method has been used to investigate breakdown of human myelin in vitro. We found that serum from MS patients and controls was generally devoid of any myelin degradative activity. However, isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 43% of MS patients showed significant myelin degradative activity as did those from 61.5% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Myelin degradation by cells was found in only 13% of patients with other neurological diseases and in no healthy controls. It is proposed that this non-specific peripheral cellular immune degradative activity originates from cells activated within the central nervous system of MS patients or the joints of individuals with RA. As a result, activity in the blood only indirectly reflects the ongoing inflammatory response at the primary site, accounting for the lack of correlation between changes in the blood and the clinical status of the MS patient. We further propose that the lack of in vitro myelin degradative activity in cells recovered from the cerebrospinal fluid is due to autoaggressive cells being sequestered to the brain.
Insights
Peripheral blood cells from multiple sclerosis (MS) patients show significant myelin degradation activity, suggesting an autoimmune basis for MS. This cellular activity may indirectly reflect central nervous system inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Autoimmunity
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system.
- The autoimmune basis of MS is under investigation, with a focus on myelin breakdown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively investigate human myelin breakdown in vitro to understand the autoimmune basis of MS.
- To assess myelin degradative activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from MS patients and controls.
Main Methods:
- A quantitative method was employed to study human myelin breakdown in vitro.
- PBMCs were isolated from patients with MS, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), other neurological diseases, and healthy controls.
- Myelin degradative activity of PBMCs was measured.
Main Results:
- Serum from MS patients and controls generally lacked myelin degradative activity.
- Significant myelin degradative activity was observed in PBMCs from 43% of MS patients and 61.5% of RA patients.
- Myelin degradation by cells was found in 13% of patients with other neurological diseases and in no healthy controls.
Conclusions:
- Peripheral cellular immune activity demonstrates myelin degradative capacity, suggesting an autoimmune component in MS and RA.
- This activity may originate from cells activated at primary inflammatory sites (CNS in MS, joints in RA).
- Blood activity may indirectly reflect central inflammation, explaining the lack of correlation with clinical status in MS patients.