CSF oligoclonal bands in MS include antibodies against Chlamydophila antigens.

BACKGROUND

Considerable evidence suggests the role of an infectious agent in MS. The presence of Chlamydophila pneumoniae in CSF from patients with MS was shown earlier; to further examine this association the reactivity of the oligoclonal antibody response in the CSF of patients with MS to C pneumoniae antigens was determined and compared with other antigens.

METHODS

Seventeen patients with MS and 14 control subjects with other neurologic disease were studied. Affinity-driven immunoblot studies and solid-phase adsorption of CSF oligoclonal bands by elementary body antigens of C pneumoniae, viral antigens (measles and herpes simplex virus-1), bacterial antigen (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus), and heat shock protein-60 were performed.

RESULTS

Affinity-driven immunoblot studies demonstrated reactivity of oligoclonal bands in CSF samples from 16 patients with MS against elementary body antigens of C pneumoniae. None of the control subjects showed a prominent reactivity to elementary body antigens of C pneumoniae. In 14 of 17 patients with MS examined, oligoclonal bands were adsorbed either partially or completely from the CSF by elementary body antigens of C pneumoniae, but not by myelin basic protein, heat shock protein-60, or bacterial or viral antigens. In three patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, adsorption of oligoclonal bands was seen with measles virus antigens but not with elementary body antigens of C pneumoniae.

CONCLUSIONS

Oligoclonal bands in CSF of patients with MS include antibodies against Chlamydophila antigens.