Margaret Haire

Increased tendency to spontaneous in-vitro lymphocyte transformation in clinically active multiple sclerosis.

Lymphocytes from 8 of 10 patients with clinically active multiple sclerosis (MS) but from only 3 of 18 patients with quiescent MS and 4 of 20 healthy donors transformed spontaneously on in-vitro culture. The transformed cells from all donors had the characteristics of B lymphocytes (surface and intracytoplasmic immunoglobulin and complement receptors) and carried antigens of Epstein-Barr virus. It is suggested that these results are further evidence that immunoregulation in active MS is abnormal.

Measles immunoglobulins in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

Normal responses of measles specific immunoglobulins M and G (IgM and IgG) were defined in 10 children with measles. Abnormal responses of measles IgM and IgG were found in both sera and cerebrospinal fluids from three cases of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. In two patients the serum titres of measles IgM and IgG were abnormally high. The measles IgM was present during prolonged illnesses in serum and cerebrospinal fluid, which suggested a correlation with the known persistence of measles virus antigen in the brain of the three patients. It was concluded that both measles IgM and IgG may be produced within the central nervous system in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

Distribution of measles antigen and immunoglobulin-containing cells in the CNS in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) and atypical measles encephalitis

The immunoperoxidase technique has been used to study the distribution of measles virus antigen and immunoglobulin (Ig)-containing cells within the CNS, in 5 cases of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) and 1 case of atypical measles encephalitis. Measles virus antigen was demonstrated within the brain in all cases, and in the spinal cord in 1 case of SSPE. Ig-containing cells were also demonstrated in all cases, the proportions of the different light and heavy chain types varying somewhat from case to case. In SSPE IgG constituted the major and IgA the principal minor heavy chain demonstrated. In all cases of SSPE there was significant excess of light-chain-containing over heavy-chain-containing cells. In the case of atypical measles encephalitis there was a paucity of Ig-containing cells and a relatively high proportion (39%) of these contained IgM. The case of atypical measles encephalitis differed from those of SSPE also in the presence of multinucleate giant cells, some of which contained measles virus antigen.

Measles and Other Virus-specific Immunoglobulins in Multiple Sclerosis

Immunoglobulins M and G specific for meales, herpes simplex, and rubella viruses were assayed by the fluorescent antibody method in sera and cerebrospinal fluids (C.S.F.) obtained simultaneously from 30 patients with multiple sclerosis, 30 patients with other neurological diseases, and 30 “normal” control subjects. Sera of 11 out of 30 patients with multiple sclerosis had IgM which reacted specifically with measles virus-infected cells, compared with 2 out of 30 of the patients with other neurological diseases and none of the 30 normal controls. Virus-specific IgM was not found in C.S.F. by this method. The geometric mean titre of measles virus-specific IgG in serum was significantly higher in the multiple sclerosis group than in either control group, and while IgG specific for all three viruses was found in C.S.F., suggesting transfer across the blood-brain barrier, measles IgG predominated.

Immunoglobulin Responses in Rubella and its Complications

Normal responses of rubella-specific IgG and IgM antibody were assessed in eight patient by immunofluorescence. A prolonged rubella-specific IgM response was shown in three patients with complications of rubella infection. Two patients had thrombocytopenic purpura and one had carpal-tunnel compression.

Immunoglobulin M specific for measles and mumps in multiple sclerosis.

Sera from 43 patients with multiple sclerosis were tested by immunofluorescence. Sera from patients with active multiple sclerosis included four with measles virus-specific immunoglobulin M (measles IgM) and two with mumps virus-specific IgM (mumps IgM). In one case each mumps IgM and measles IgM seem to have persisted for two and a half years and three years respectively. In a comparable group of 43 patients with other nervous diseases measles IgM was found in only one serum, and among 43 normal patients no measles or mumps IgM was found. Herpes simplex virus-specific IgM (herpes simplex IgM) was distributed among all three groups. Anticellular IgM was also found, predominantly in active multiple sclerosis, and persisted in two sera for two and a half years.

Rapid Diagnosis Of Rubella By Demonstrating Rubella-Specific Igm Antibodies In The Serum By Indirect Immunofluorescence

Summary The normal responses of rubella-specific IgM and IgG antibodies were studied in eight patients with proven rubella by the indirect immunofluorescent technique. To evaluate the detection of rubella-specific IgM for diagnosis, a “blind” study of sera from 13 other patients with proven rubella was carried out and the method proved to be 100 per cent, reliable. Its sensitivity was compared with virus isolation and with direct immunofluorescent staining of virus antigen in infected cells from throat swabs.

The specificity of IgG- and IgM-class smooth muscle antibody in the sera of patients with multiple sclerosis and active chronic hepatitis

Abstract The specificity of IgG and IgM smooth muscle antibodies (SMA) present in sera of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and active chronic hepatitis (ACH) was investigated using the indirect immunofluorescent technique combined with studies on cultured cells treated with cytotoxic drugs. IgM class of SMA was detected in both the MS and ACH sera and appeared to react with a component of cellular intermediate filaments. In addition the ACH sera contained IgG class of SMA of anti-actin specificity.

Measles Virus-Specific IgG in Cerebrospinal Fluid in Multiple Sclerosis

The prevalence of measles virus-specific IgG in cerebrospinal fluid (C.S.F.) of patients with multiple sclerosis (M.S.) has been compared with that in fluids from patients with other neurological diseases and from normal control subjects. The prevalence in the three groups was 58·1%, 24·1%, and 0% respectively. Fivefold concentration of the specimens increased the prevalence in the first two groups to 80·6% and 34·5% respectively, while measles IgG was not detected in any fluids of the normal control group, even after concentration.

Antibodies to lymphocytes and smooth muscle in the sera of patients with multiple sclerosis

A higher incidence of cold-reacting lymphocytotoxic antibodies (LCA) was found in sera of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) (526) compared with healthy controls (126). When the same sera were tested by indirect immunofluorescence, using as antigen airdried lymphocytes from the patients and controls, antibodies reactive with the cell membranes were found in IgM class more frequently in the MS sera (726) than in the control sera (126). The antibodies were more active against the MS lymphocytes (826) than against the control cells (426). Specificity for smooth-muscle-type antigens was found in the antilymphocyte antibodies (ALA), but their presence did not correlate with LCA. Evidence for an association of IgM ALA with a rheumatoid-like factor was not found.