Immune lysis of lipid vesicles containing myelin basic protein or glycolipid antigens by multiple sclerosis and normal sera

Characterization of anti-cerebroside sulfate antisera using a theoretical model to analyse liposome immune lysis data

Antisera to the acidic glycolipid cerebroside sulfate (sulfogalactosyl ceramide) were raised in rabbits by several different methods. Reactivity with cerebroside sulfate was detected from complement-mediated lysis of liposomes composed of phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol/cerebroside sulfate and containing the spin label tempocholine chloride as a marker substance. Both cholesterol rich particles and lipid bilayer liposomes containing phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol were effective carriers for cerebroside sulfate, in combination with methylated bovine serum albumin for intravenous immunization, and with Freunds complete adjuvant for subcutaneous immunization. The antisera raised by the different methods were characterized with respect to their cross reactivity with other lipids and the relative concn of specific antibodies and their affinities for cerebroside sulfate using a theoretical model developed earlier [Vistnes A. I. (1984) J. Immun. Meth. 68, 251] for analysis of data from immune lysis of liposomes. Differences in these properties, both of which can affect antibody titer, could be detected for antisera raised by different methods and obtained at different times after immunization. Some of the antisera also reacted non-specifically to varying degrees with other anionic lipids indicating that the anti-cerebroside sulfate antibodies could bind non-specifically to anionic lipids by electrostatic interactions. This suggested that basic amino acid residues may be an important part of the antibody receptor binding site for the glycolipid head group. An important implication of this result is that antibodies raised against anionic glycolipids should be tested for non-specific binding to anionic phospholipids.

Natural seric anti-fatty acid antibodies in multiple sclerosis

Naturally occurring anti-oleic acid conjugate antibodies were detected in human sera using an adapted direct immunoenzymatic assay. They were present to a higher level in the sera of patients with multiple sclerosis in acute relapse compared to patients with other neurological diseases or healthy subjects and even patients with multiple sclerosis in progressive form.