AUGMENTATION OF IMMUNE-MEDIATED DEMYELINATION BY LIPID HAPTENS

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 45  (2) , 174-182
Abstract
Encephalitogenic effects of bovine galactocerebroside and total myelin lipids given in the presence or absence of a known encephalitogenic dose of bovine myelin basic protein (MBP) in complete Freund''s adjuvant were examined in Hartley strain guinea pigs. The lipid haptens and MBP were given in the ratio in which they occur in intact myelin and were compared with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) induced by whole bovine white matter in complete Freund''s adjuvant. Clinically, bovine white matter- and MBP-induced EAE were similar, but in MBP-EAE, demyelination typical of bovine white matter-EAE was lacking from the inflammatory lesions in the CNS. Lipid/complete Freund''s adjuvant emulsions were ineffective both clinically and histologically. In combination with MBP, galactocerebroside and total myelin lipids induced an EAE as severe as MBP-induced disease except that CNS lesions also showed demyelination. When given separately into opposite hindfeet, the lipid haptens and MBP produced EAE, but the lesions were not demyelinative. Lipid haptens have an augmenting effect on MBP when given in the same emulsion and produce CNS, apparently lesions which are both inflammatory and demyelinative.