Acute optic neuritis: myelin basic protein and proteolipid protein antibodies, affinity, and the HLA system

Ann Neurol. 1995 Dec;38(6):943-50. doi: 10.1002/ana.410380616.

Abstract

Anti-myelin basic protein, anti-proteolipid protein, and anti-myelin basic protein peptide (amino acid residues 1-20, 63-88, and 89-101) antibody-secreting cells were studied in 20 patients with idiopathic optic neuritis, 20 with optic neuritis as part of multiple sclerosis, and 20 neurological control subjects. Antibody-secreting cells were enumerated with an immunospot assay; the relative binding affinity of the antibodies was estimated by elution with thiocyanate. Patients with optic neuritis had more anti-myelin basic protein and anti-proteolipid protein antibodies than did control subjects (both p < 0.05); there was no difference between idiopathic optic neuritis and optic neuritis as a symptom of multiple sclerosis. Presence of the multiple sclerosis-associated DRB1*1501 gene was not associated with preferential synthesis of high-affinity antibodies reactive with a single myelin basic protein peptide or with preferential synthesis of either anti-myelin basic protein or anti-proteolipid protein antibodies. The results demonstrate a potential for intrathecal synthesis of both anti-myelin basic protein and anti-proteolipid protein antibodies of high apparent affinity in patients with optic neuritis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibody Affinity / immunology
  • Antibody Specificity / immunology
  • Antibody-Producing Cells / immunology
  • Autoantibodies / immunology
  • Autoantibodies / metabolism
  • Binding Sites, Antibody
  • Female
  • HLA Antigens / immunology*
  • HLA-DQ Antigens / analysis
  • HLA-DR Antigens / analysis
  • Histocompatibility Testing
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Myelin Basic Protein / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Myelin Basic Protein / immunology*
  • Myelin Proteolipid Protein / immunology*
  • Optic Neuritis / immunology*

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • HLA Antigens
  • HLA-DQ Antigens
  • HLA-DR Antigens
  • Myelin Basic Protein
  • Myelin Proteolipid Protein