Abnormal protein patterns in multiple sclerosis

Sera from patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and those obtained from normal subjects are indistinguishable by regular 5% or 7% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. However, 11 out of 15 MS sera examined by gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed three distinct protein bands. None of the sera obtained from 10 normal subjects showed the characteristic protein patterns when they were examined by gradient gel electrophoresis. Similar results were obtained with de-albumin serum samples or with serum proteins precipitable at 50% ammonium sulfate saturation. These three proteins have now been purified to homogeneity by preparative gradient gel electrophoresis. Molecular weights of these proteins were estimated from gradient gel electrophoresis as 398,000, 363,000 and 302,000 daltons, respectively.