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Characterization of serum anti-phospholipid antibodies in patients with multiple sclerosis
1Department of Neurology, Fukushima Medical College.
Abstract:
We measured serum antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and examined the correlations between these antibodies and MS. This study included thirty-two patients with clinically definite MS, thirteen patients with other autoimmune neurological diseases excluding collagen diseases (disease control A), eight patients with collagen vascular diseases (disease control B) and twenty-six healthy persons (normal control). In MS group IgG antibody against cardiolipin (CL) was detected in 3 (9%); among them, cofactor (beta 2-glycoprotein I) dependency was shown in 2 but one was cofactor independent. IgM antibody was elevated in 14 of 32 patients (44%) with MS, but cofactor dependency was not determined. However, this was significantly higher in frequency than that of the disease control A (p < 0.01) and normal control (p < 0.01). Results of antibodies against phosphatidylserine were found similar to CL, but antibodies against phosphatidylcholine were in most cases negative. Each of anti-CL IgG antibody purified from four patients with diverse immunological disorders (primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, MS, polyarteritis nodosa and systemic lupus erythematosus) had different reactivities against DNA. In addition, the aPL positive group in MS possessed the autoantibodies such as antinuclear antibody at higher rate than the negative group. However, clinically two groups of MS were indistinguishable. The higher incidence of aPL may imply that a broad spectrum of autoantibodies might be produced in MS; some antibodies presumably related directly to MS pathogenesis are yet to be identified.
Insights
Elevated levels of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) were found in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), suggesting a broader autoimmune response in MS beyond known markers.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Neurology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system.
- Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are typically associated with autoimmune conditions like antiphospholipid syndrome.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and significance of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).
- To explore potential correlations between aPL and MS, and other autoimmune diseases.
Main Methods:
- Serum samples from 32 MS patients, disease controls, and healthy controls were analyzed for aPL using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
- Specific aPL, including IgG and IgM antibodies against cardiolipin (CL) and phosphatidylserine, were quantified.
- Cofactor dependency (beta 2-glycoprotein I) was assessed for some antibodies.
Main Results:
- Elevated IgM anti-cardiolipin (CL) antibodies were significantly more frequent in MS patients compared to controls (44% vs. controls, p < 0.01).
- Antibodies against phosphatidylserine showed similar trends to CL, while anti-phosphatidylcholine antibodies were mostly negative.
- MS patients with aPL also showed a higher rate of other autoantibodies, such as antinuclear antibody.
Conclusions:
- The increased incidence of aPL in MS suggests a potentially wider spectrum of autoantibody production in the disease.
- While aPL are more prevalent in MS, clinical presentation did not differ between aPL-positive and aPL-negative MS groups.
- Further research is needed to identify specific autoantibodies directly involved in MS pathogenesis.