Leukocyte Iso- and Autoantibodies in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) with Special Regard to Complement-Dependent Cold-Reacting Auto-Lymphocytotoxins (CoCoCy)

Abstract

Studies on leukocyte antibodies in multiple sclerosis (MS) yielded positive results in 34% of 462 MS patients who were in the chronic stage of the disease, when the sera were tested at 15 °C against homologous lymphocytes of 10 cell donors bearing different HL-A antigens. The corresponding value in healthy controls was 7%. When autologous cells were used for demonstration of complement-dependant cold-reacting cytotoxins (auto-CoCoCy) the percentage of positive reactions rose up to 75%. No correlation of iso-CoCoCy with the HL-A antigens could be demonstrated. CoCoCy-positive sera did not react either with homologous or autologous lymphocytes at 37 °C. CoCoCy activity in sera was destroyed by means of 2-mercaptoethanol. The biological significance of CoCoCy in MS remains unclear.

Cold reactive antilymphocyte antibodies in neurological diseases.

“…However, the number of patients with dermatomyositis studied was quite small (N=9). Kuwert and Bertrams (1972) were able to show a higher incidence of antilymphocyte antibodies in multiple sclerosis sera reacting with cells from other patients with multiple sclerosis than with cells from normal donors. However, we were unable to demonstrate cold reactive antilymphocyte antibodies directed against autologous lymphocytes in the serum of eight patients with multiple sclerosis.…”

“…Among these are multiple sclerosis (Kuwert and Bertrams, 1972;Schocket et al, 1977;Schocket and Weiner, 1978), subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (Schocket et al, 1977), myasthenia gravis (Kreisler et al, 1971) and polymyositis . We have confirmed the presence of such antibodies in these disorders.…”

Lymphocytotoxic antibodies in cancer

“…An increased incidence of serum lymphocytotoxic antibodies has been demonstrated in a variety of diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus [19,22,28,34], multiple sclerosis [14,26], inflammatory bowel disease [10], Sjogren's syndrome [30], and viral …”

“…Naturally occurring, cold-reactive lymphocytotoxic antibodies ( L C A ) are found in sera from patients with ' a u t o i m m u n e ' diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) [19,22,28,33], inflammatory bowel disease [10], and multiple sclerosis (MS) [14,26]; and acute and chronic viral diseases including measles, infectious mononucleosis [7,21], and hepatitis [3]. In some of these diseases, especially SLE and acute viral infections [7], the presence of L C A has correlated with immune system abnormalities, predominantly lymphopenia [29,34].…”

Absorption Tests on Cold Lymphocytotoxins

“…The results showed these antibodies to be absorbed on some types of cells and eluted from others. The best absorption was obtained with fetal thymocytes and brain tissue.Lymphocytotoxic antibodies, active at +15 °C and thus differing from anti-HLA lymphocytotoxic antibodies [10], were ini tially reported by Terasaki et al [14] and since then studied by many workers [4,6,9,11,12]. Occurring in various pathological conditions, their significance is still un known.…”