IgG Synthesis in Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Although the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) is still today unknown, many lines of evidence suggest that an aberrant immune response is involved (Weiner et al., 1982). The most important data supporting this point of view are the finding of an intrathecal IgG production of restricted heterogeneity, the presence of a mononuclear and plasmacell perivascular infiltration in areas of acute demyelination, the finding of autoantibodies directed at myelin basic protein or other brain antigens, the prevalence of certain HLA haplotypes closely to the genetic locus of immune response control and finally the pathogenetic mechanism of the demyelinating disease of experimental models in animals. The humoral immune system abnormalities were the first to be noted but still awaits elucidations. We studied in several directions immunoglobulins, immunocomplexes and viral antibodies in MS patients.