THE CELLULAR ORIGIN OF LYSOSOMAL ENZYMES IN THE PLAQUE IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS..

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Abstract
Existing techniques were adapted to demonstrate acid phosphatase (APP) and myelin, lipid or astrocytic fibers in the same histological section from 4 multiple sclerosis (MS) cases and 3 controls. In normal controls APP was demonstrated in neurons, astrocytes, ependyma including chorid plexus epithelium and in pericytes, but not in oligodendrocytes. In MS, APP positive cells were found in the plaque, plaque edge and macroscopically normal white matter. Not only macrophages, but also astrocytes in the MS plaque were APP positive, although the distribution of enzyme in these cells was predominantly diffuse, unlike the particulate distribution in normal astrocytes and other APP positive cells: the significance of this finding is discussed. Astrocytes and macrophages are the main source of the elevated levels of APP found biochemically in MS and that in old plaques astrocytes make the major contribution.