The role of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.

Various detergents used in preparative membrane protein chemistry were added to a complete Freund's adjuvant/water emulsion in order to increase the solubility and/or immunologic availability of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis membrane and to explain its role in blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability. Magnetic resonance imaging was used for in vivo determination of the BBB breakdown and cerebral edema. The results showed that with 1% 10 tridecyl ether, which increases emulsion stability, abundant BBB breakdown and cerebral edema were observed, similar to those encountered in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). We suggest that the immunologic response triggered off by M. tuberculosis largely contributes to the BBB permeability changes observed during EAE, probably by an action on the endothelial cells of the cerebral blood vessels.