Circulating myelinotoxic factors in human and experimental demyelinative disease

Demyelinating agents in demyelinating diseases have been analysed using organoid cultures of the nervous tissue. The agents can be classified into humoral and cellular factors. Humoral factor is complement C3 dependent IgG antibody against glycolipids, such as galactocerebroside, sulfatide and ganglioside. Antigenicity of these glycolipids seems to be species specific. Other than rabbits, vulnerability seems to be low. Demyelinating pattern in vitro produced by application of antisera and patient sera are characterized by enhancement of activities of the macrophages. Adhesion of activated cells to myelin, penetration, loosening, splitting and vesicular dissolution of myelin lamellae are characteristic features. Hapten antigen described above also induces myelination inhibiting antibody, which interferes with in vitro myelination. Cellular factors are characterized by lymphotoxic effects and activation of macrophages. These alterations are identical to those by lymphokines liberated from T lymphocytes. Effects of humoral factors can be seen only in limited animal species, whereas cellular factors affect overall animals, suggesting the cellular factors play the major role in the processes of demyelination.