Oligodendrocyte-binding antibodies in multiple sclerosis: 125I-protein A studies

Sera from patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), patients with neurologic diseases other than MS, controls (adult and newborn), and rabbits immunized with bovine oligodendrocytes were assayed for antioligodendrocyte antibodies by a binding test with 125I-protein A. The mean binding of 125I-protein A to oligodendrocytes was similar in MS and non-MS sera, but both were significantly higher than binding in controls. A hundredfold increase of 125I-protein A binding over the preimmune value was obtained with a rabbit antioligodendrocyte antiserum. Oligodendrocyte-binding antibodies measured with 125I-protein A do not appear to be a distinctive feature of MS.