Isolation of transmissible cytopathic agent from bone-marrow of patient with multiple sclerosis

Correlation of mollicutes and their viruses with multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating diseases

To identify infectious diseases likely involved in MS, the author previously correlated the geographical distribution of MS with the global distribution of tick-borne diseases. Tick-borne infectious agents include mollicutes or mycoplasmas. The current paper reviews evidence that mollicutes, especially spiroplasmas, or their viruses could be the initial exposure that causes MS. Mollicute infections, including the effects of their toxins, can be treated or prevented with gold salts or tetracyclines. If further research recommended by this review finds a role of mycoplasmas in MS, treatment of MS with gold with tetracycline should be evaluated.

Bone marrow cells in patients with multiple sclerosis

Bone marrow cells from patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) were studied regarding proliferative capacity with and without mitogenic stimulation, immunohistochemical characterization of cellular phenotypes with monoclonal antibodies and morphology and compared to bone marrow cells from healthy individuals undergoing elective orthopaedic surgery. MS patients' bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MNC) showed higher spontaneous proliferation both in comparison with BM-MNC from controls and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBL) from MS patients. Phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) response was higher in MS BM-MNC than BM-MNC from controls. MS patients' BM-MNC proliferated more on interleukin-2 (IL-2) stimulation than their corresponding PBL. There was no significant difference in proliferative response of PBL between MS patients and controls. Higher levels of undifferentiated or activated cells, as measured by OKT10, were found in peripheral blood of patients with MS. Seven of 11 MS patients showed morphological signs of activation in their bone marrow. The results indicate a role for immune reactions in bone marrow in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis, a disease with symptoms and signs strictly confined to the central nervous system.