OLIGOCLONAL IMMUNOGLOBULINS IN SUB-ACUTE SCLEROSING PANENCEPHALITIS AND MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS - STUDY OF IDIOTYPIC DETERMINANTS

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  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 35  (1) , 67-75
Abstract
The idiotypic determinants of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) antibodies [Ab] were studied using rabbit antisera to serum and spinal fluid fractions. Evidence is presented indicating that serum and CSF anti-measles Ab, as judged by their idiotypes, differ in their relative concentrations in the 2 compartments. Some of these Ab subpopulations may originate within the CNS, while others are made largely or entirely outside. Strong idiotypic specificity and a limited cross-idiotypic specificity relating Ab from 3 out of 14 SSPE patients were identified. Measles virus agglutinated red cells coated with Ab fraction to high titers. This system has proved useful in demonstating the competition between anti-idiotypic Ab and antigen [Ag] for the combining sites of the measles Ab. Two anti-idiotypic antisera were obtained against the spinal fluid Ig[immunoglobulin]G of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The possible use of these marker reagents and related methodologies in the search for the Ab involved in MS bands are discussed.