Anti-streptococcal antibodies reacting with brain tissue. I. Immunofluourescent studies

Serum JD from a 14-year old girl with Sydenhams chorea contained antibodies which gave immunofluorescent staining of the limiting membrane of the brain, ependymal tissue and fibrous astrocytes. These antibodies could be completely absorbed by Str. pyogenes type 24 (NCTC 8305) but only partially if at all by type 6 matt (NCTC 8302) or type 6 glossy (NCTC 8709). In contrast, staining by the same serum of the choroid plexus, the periphery of hepatocytes, the periphery of the cells of the gastric mucosa, and tubules in the kidney could be absorbed out by the type 6 matt and type 24 strains (but not by the type 6 glossy or Staph. aureus NCTC 6571). A rabbit anti-streptococcal serum (3/74) raised against disintegrated washed cells of Str. pyogenes type 24 stained and the same structures in the brain to high titre, but not the choroid plexus and not the other structures stained by serum JD. These staining reactions of 3/74 could be absorbed out by Str. pyogenes type 24 but not by Str. pyogenes type 6 matt or type 6 glossy. None of these staining patterns given by serum JD or by 3/74 could be absorbed by human uterine smooth muscle. Serum 3/74 stained heart muscle but this reaction could be absorbed without affecting the brain staining reactions. Sera from 4 other patients with Sydenham's chorea were found to give staining of the ependyma and the limiting membrane, 2 only very weakly.