Autoantibodies to myelin basic protein within multiple sclerosis central nervous system tissue

Area of Science:

• Neuroimmunology
• Autoimmunity

Background:

• Previous studies detected free and bound anti-myelin basic protein (anti-MBP) antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with active multiple sclerosis (MS).
• This research investigated the presence and characteristics of anti-MBP antibodies within the central nervous system (CNS) tissue of MS patients.

Observation:

• Immunoglobulin G (IgG) containing anti-MBP was identified in both free and bound protein extracts from the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves of an MS patient.
• Purified IgG from MS CNS tissue extracts demonstrated the presence of anti-MBP.
• Radioimmunoassay (RIA) confirmed anti-MBP in all tested protein extracts.

Findings:

• Anti-MBP antibodies were isolated from purified IgG derived from MS brain and spinal cord tissue.
• Both free and tissue-bound anti-MBP antibodies were effectively neutralized by human MBP and a specific synthetic peptide (residues 75-95), indicating specificity.
• The antibodies did not react with another synthetic peptide (residues 35-58), further defining their target.

Implications:

• These findings confirm that anti-MBP antibodies, previously found in MS CSF, are also present within the CNS tissue.
• The study identifies both free and, to a lesser extent, tissue-bound forms of these antibodies in the MS CNS.
• This suggests a potential role for these antibodies in the pathogenesis of MS within the CNS tissue itself.