Abstract
Antibodies to isolated oligodendrocytes and to oligodendroglia were demonstrated in brain sections by indirect immunofluorescence technic in the sera of 19 of 21 patients with multiple sclerosis. Such antibodies were in 3 of 5 patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis and one of 4 patients with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, but not in patients with other neurologic diseases or normal persons. The antibodies were absorbed by preincubation of serum with isolated oligodendrocytes or whole white matter, but not with purified myelin or liver tissue. Immunoflurescent staining was blocked by either rabbit anti-oligodendrocyte serum or non-fluoresceinated goat anti human immunoglobulin. These findings suggest that antibodies to oligodendroglia are distinct from antibodies to myelin and that demyelination in multiple sclerosis could be a consequence of an immunopathologic reaction directed against oligodendroglial cells.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1207-1211 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | New England Journal of Medicine |
| Volume | 297 |
| Issue number | 22 |
| State | Published - 1977 |
| Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine(all)