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Isolation of an infectious agent from bone-marrows of patients with multiple sclerosis
Abstract:
Bone-marrow aspirates from 5 patients with recent episodes of multiple sclerosis (M.S.) contained increased numbers of plasma cells, and aspirates from 3 of these patients contained atypical reticulum cells. When bone-marrow from 4 of the patients was inoculated into cell cultures a cytopathic effect (C.P.E.) was observed, and this effect could be serially passaged to further cultures. The C.P.E. was not observed when ether-treated extracts of cells showing C.P.E. were used for passage or when the passage material was filtered through a 100 nm filter. Appearance of C.P.E. was delayed in cultures inoculated with 220 nm filtrates of inoculum was passed through filters of greater pore size. No C.P.E. was observed after culture of bone-marrow aspirated from each of 7 patients under clinical investigation for disorders other than M.S.
Insights
Researchers observed a cytopathic effect (C.P.E.) in cell cultures using bone marrow from multiple sclerosis (M.S.) patients. This effect, potentially linked to M.S., could be serially passaged, suggesting an infectious agent.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Virology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Multiple Sclerosis (M.S.) is a chronic neurological disease.
- Bone marrow analysis in M.S. patients may reveal cellular abnormalities.
- Investigating potential infectious agents in M.S. pathogenesis is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence of transmissible agents in bone marrow of M.S. patients.
- To characterize cellular changes and their potential infectivity in M.S.
Main Methods:
- Bone marrow aspirates from M.S. patients and control groups were analyzed.
- Cell cultures were inoculated with bone marrow samples.
- Cytopathic effect (C.P.E.) was observed and serially passaged.
- Filtration studies (100 nm, 220 nm) and ether treatment were performed to characterize the agent.
Main Results:
- Increased plasma cells and atypical reticulum cells were found in M.S. patient bone marrow.
- A serially passaged C.P.E. was observed in cell cultures inoculated with M.S. bone marrow.
- The C.P.E. was not observed with ether-treated extracts or 100 nm filtrates.
- Delayed C.P.E. was noted with larger pore size filtrates (220 nm).
- No C.P.E. was observed in cultures from non-M.S. patients.
Conclusions:
- Bone marrow from M.S. patients may harbor an infectious agent capable of causing C.P.E. in cell culture.
- The agent appears to be filterable and sensitive to ether, suggesting a viral or similar etiology.
- Further research is warranted to identify the agent and its role in multiple sclerosis pathogenesis.