IgG-antibodies to CNS proteins in patients with multiple sclerosis

The CSF and sera of 185 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), 130 patients with other inflammatory diseases of the CNS (OID) and 50 patients with spinal disc syndrome (controls) were investigated for IgG-antibodies to CNS proteins by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting and by isoelectric focusing combined with affinity blotting. IgG-antibodies to CNS proteins in serum (immunoblotting) were detected in 18 patients with MS (10%), in 29 patients with OID (22%) and in four controls (8%). Intrathecal synthesis of IgG-antibodies to CNS proteins was demonstrated in 11 patients with MS (6%), in 37 patients with OID (28%) and in none of the controls. In 4/11 patients with MS intrathecally produced antibodies were shown to be specific for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Of patients with MS, 180 displayed oligoclonal IgG-bands in the CSF. Specificity of these bands for CNS proteins was demonstrated only in 2/180 specimens (1%). These findings indicate, that in most patients with MS oligoclonal IgG-bands in the CSF do not contain relevant amounts of antibodies to CNS proteins.