Agarose electrophoresis of cerebrospinal fluid in multiple sclerosis

Abstract

The gamma globulins in cerebrospinal fluid from almost all patients with multiple sclerosis migrate in agarose electrophoresis as abnormal discrete populations, so-called oligoclonal bands. Such bands have also appeared in cerebrospinal fluid from patients with other types of inflammatory pathology such as neurosyphilis, acute idiopathic polyneuropathy, and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. The demonstration of cerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal bands may aid in the evaluation of patients with early or atypical multiple sclerosis. This report describes a simple method for demonstrating cerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal bands using readily available commercial reagents and apparatus. Oligoclonal bands were seen in cerebrospinal fluid from all patients with clinically definite multiple sclerosis, even though some had normal cerebrospinal fluid gamma globulin levels, and in most patients with presumptive multiple sclerosis or other inflammatory conditions of the nervous system. They were not seen in cerebrospinal fluid of control patients with a variety of other neurologic diseases.

Progressive Rubella Panencephalitis

“…Oligoclonal bands have been noted in the -globulin region with agarose gel electrophoresis in one previous pa¬ tient. 10 The elevated CSF-serum ratio of rubella specific antibody has been found in all previously tested patients. A subacute or chronic panencephalitis has been demonstrated in brain biop¬ sy material5'' or autopsy material5 7 from three of the patients.…”

Polyreactive myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies: Implications for systemic autoimmunity in progressive experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

“…The evidence includes intrathecal Ig synthesis (Kabat and Freedman, 1950), the presence of oligoclonal IgG bands in the CSF (Johnson et al, 1977;Lowenthal et al, 1960), identification of plasma cells and Ig in MS lesions and Ig deposition at the border of actively demyelinating plaques (Esiri, 1977;Lumsden, 1971;Storch et al, 1998;Woyciechowska and Brzosko, 1977). Several studies have sought to identify the antigenic targets of the B cells and antibodies found in CSF and brain plaques in MS, yet no single target has been found which is directly responsible for the development or progression of MS. Several of the targets identified thus far are of interest to our study.…”

Antibodies from Inflamed Central Nervous System Tissue Recognize Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein

“…Substantial evidence for an abnormal humoral immune response in the CNS of patients with MS (11,12) includes intrathecal Ig synthesis (13) and the presence of IgG oligoclonal bands in the cerebrospinal fluid (14,15). In addition, B cells and plasma cells have been identified in MS lesions (16,17), along with Abs (9,18), Ig transcripts (19), and evidence of B cell differentiation (20).…”