myelin-basic-protein and Cerebrovascular-Disorders

Ischemic stroke is associated with altered systemic immune responses both early after the onset and in the recovery phase. Interleukin (IL)-10, a Th2 related cytokine, has multiple effects on different cell types, including T and B lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils and mast cells. IL-4 is another Th2 cytokine that inhibits the synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines by Th1 clones. We used enzyme-linked immunospot assays to detect and enumerate blood mononuclear cells (MNC) secreting IL-10 and IL-4 spontaneously as well as after stimulation with myelin basic protein (MBP), considered to be an autoantigen of possible pathogenic importance in, for example, multiple sclerosis, to evaluate the involvement of anti-inflammatory cytokines in ischemic stroke. All patients with ischemic stroke and cerebral hemorrhage had strongly elevated numbers of IL-10 secreting blood MNC compared with healthy individuals. Numbers of MBP-reactive IL-10 secreting blood MNC were also elevated in a proportion of the patients with stroke and hemorrhage. Levels of IL-4 secreting blood MNC did not differ in ischemic stroke versus healthy individuals. The anti-inflammatory IL-10 could play a pivotal role in ischemic stroke as well as cerebral hemorrhage.

Topics: Acute-Phase Reaction; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Interleukin-10; Interleukin-4; Monocytes; Myelin Basic Protein; Stimulation, Chemical; Stroke

To investigate the neuropsychological characteristics and changes in CRP, S100B, MBP, HSP-7, and NSE in serum.. Sixty-six (66) patients treated in our hospital as CCCI group were chosen for our study, and 90 patients with depression were selected as the depression group. The patients in both groups were examined with CT perfusion, depression, anxiety and cognition evaluation. Their serum CRP, S100B, MBP, HSP-70 and NSE levels were detected. Neuropsychological and serum markers characteristics were compared.. The CBF and CBV in bilateral basal ganglia, frontal lobes, greater oval center, brain stem, and left and right regions of occipital lobes of the patients in CCCI group were significantly lower than in the depression group. The HAMD and HAMA scores of CCCI group patients were significantly lower than in the depression group; CCCI group performed better regarding attention, memory, abstract terms and delayed recall. CCCI also had significantly higher total scores than the depression group. Serum CRP, S100B, MBP, HSP-70 and NSE levels in CCCI group were significantly higher than in the depression group. The differences reach statistical significance (p<0.05).. CCCI patients who are accompanied by minor depressive disorder have different degrees of cognitive impairment and experience a significant rise in serum CRP, S100B, MBP, HSP-70 and NSE.

Topics: Aged; Anxiety; Biomarkers; C-Reactive Protein; Cerebrovascular Circulation; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Chronic Disease; Depressive Disorder; Female; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myelin Basic Protein; Neuropsychological Tests; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Risk Factors; S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Dementia risk in women is higher than in men, but the molecular neuropathology of this gender difference remains poorly defined. In this study, we used unbiased, discovery-driven quantitative proteomics to assess the molecular basis of gender influences on risk of Alzheimer's disease with cerebrovascular disease (AD + CVD).. We detected modulation of several redox proteins in the temporal lobe of AD + CVD subjects, and we observed sex-specific alterations in the white matter (WM) and mitochondria proteomes of female patients. Functional proteomic analysis of AD + CVD brain tissues revealed increased citrullination of arginine and deamidation of glutamine residues of myelin basic protein (MBP) in female which impaired degradation of degenerated MBP and resulted in accumulation of non-functional MBP in WM. Female patients also displayed down-regulation of ATP sub-units and cytochromes, suggesting increased severity of mitochondria impairment in women.. Our study demonstrates that gender-linked modulation of white matter and mitochondria proteomes influences neuropathology of the temporal lobe in AD + CVD.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alzheimer Disease; Amino Acids; Case-Control Studies; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Demography; Female; Humans; Male; Mitochondria; Myelin Basic Protein; Nerve Degeneration; Proteome; Sex Characteristics; Temporal Lobe; White Matter

Topics: Autoantibodies; Biomarkers; Brain Neoplasms; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Globosides; Humans; Multiple Sclerosis; Myelin Basic Protein; Myelin P0 Protein; Polyradiculoneuropathy, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a diffuse connective tissue disease and a multi-system disorder with inflammatory process affecting joints in the first place. RA is found in 1 to 3% of population; the first signs of it are usually found in people aged 35 to 50. Neurological pathology in RA is manifested by cervicocranialgia, cervical myelopathy, pathological changes in the upper cervical spine, and cerebral disorders. However, exact mechanisms of the development of central nervous system (CNS) lesions in RA have not been presented. The aim of this study was to clarify the pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical peculiarities of cerebral disturbances in RA. The subjects were 42 female patients, who underwent clinical, neurological, clinicolaboratory, immunological, and clinicophysiological examination. Subjective and objective symptoms were studied; the following syndromes of CNS pathology were distinguished: initial manifestations of cerebral functional insufficiency; disseminated cerebral micro symptoms; focal cerebral lesion. These disorders were accompanied by changes in biochemical parameters which evidenced the presence of connective tissue destruction and immune inflammation. Immunological tests revealed elevation of the level of myelin basic protein antibodies, which correlated with the degree of neurological disturbances and the duration of the disease. The level of myeloperoxidase was elevated, but the degree of this elevation did not depend on the degree of the cerebral disorder and displayed a negative correlation with the duration of the disease. The results of the study demonstrate primary lesion of small vessels in RA--secondary vasculitis followed by demyelinization of CNS white substance. Thus, three forms of cerebrovascular pathology, caused by acute or chronic cerebral vascular insufficiency in RA can be distinguished: initial manifestations of cerebral circulation insufficiency; discirculatory encephalopathy; transient cerebral circulation disturbances and cerebral stroke.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antibodies; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Cervical Vertebrae; Electroencephalography; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myelin Basic Protein; Neuralgia; Peroxidase

Inflammation of multiple sclerosis (MS) brain and spinal cord tissue consists of macrophages, T lymphocytes and cytokines as well as B lymphocytes and immunoglobulins (IgGs). IgG can be detected in high concentrations in both central nervous system tissue and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Using a sensitive radioimmunoassay (RIA), autoantibodies to myelin basic protein (anti-MBP) can be detected in the CSF of 90-95% of MS patients with active disease. The purpose of the present report was to determine whether these same autoantibodies can be reliably detected in non-MS patients. Between 1978 and 1998, CSF was collected from 1,968 control non-MS patients with psychiatric, inflammatory and noninflammatory neurological diseases as well as nonneurological systemic diseases, and anti-MBP were measured by the same RIA used to detect anti-MBP in MS CSF. Anti-MBP were undetectable in 98% of CSF samples from non-MS controls. In the remaining 2% of control samples, CSF IgGs capable of binding to MBP in vitro were unpredictably detected. This latter group included 1% of patients with miscellaneous diseases such as encephalomyelitis, 5 siblings with familial spastic paraparesis, rare patients with strokes, Wernicke-Korsakoff's syndrome, inherited leukodystrophy, motor neuron disease and some patients with miscellaneous spinal cord diseases. An additional 1% of patients included a group with neurological symptoms suggestive of early or predisseminated MS. The high prevalence of free and/or bound anti-MBP in the CSF of MS patients and the rare and unpredictable occurrence in the CSF of non-MS patients suggest that autoimmunity to MBP may be operative in the demyelination of MS. Molecular clones of anti-MBP with specificity towards variable surface or cryptic MBP epitopes in vivo may determine whether or not they are involved in the demyelinating process, and this variability may also be present within the MS population. Potential mechanisms of anti-MBP-mediated demyelination in MS patients are discussed.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Autoantibodies; Central Nervous System Diseases; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Child; Encephalomyelitis; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Multiple Sclerosis; Myelin Basic Protein; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Sclerosis; Spinal Cord Diseases

The occurrence and role of autoantibodies to gangliosides and other lipid-containing components of the central nervous system in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) are unsettled. Using sensitive ELISAs, we measured IgG and IgM antibody titers and absorbances to the three major gangliosides GD1a, GD1b and GM1, and to sulfatides, cardiolipin and myelin proteins in paired serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with untreated MS, optic neuritis (ON), acute aseptic meningo-encephalitis (AM) and other neurological diseases (OND). Twenty-three per cent of 30 MS (P<0.04) and 18% of 32 ON patients (P<0.05) presented elevated IgG antibody titers to GD1a in serum compared to 9% of patients with OND. Six (40%) of the patients with malignant MS had elevated serum IgG antibody titers to GD1a compared to one (6%) of the patients with benign MS (P<0.04). In CSF, elevated IgG antibody titers to GD1a were measured in 13% of MS and 20% of ON patients compared to 4% of patients with OND (P<0. 03 and P<0.02, respectively). The augmented IgG response to GD1a in serum also separated MS from Guillain-Barré syndrome. Compared to OND increased IgM absorbances to sulfatides and cardiolipin were observed in CSF of patients with MS, but also in AM. Elevated IgG antibody titers to myelin proteins were found more often in MS patients' serum and MS, ON and AM patients' CSF compared to OND. The data implicate that among the multitude of enhanced B-cell responses occurring in MS and ON, that directed to GD1a is common and more discriminative, and should be evaluated in future MS treatment studies.

Topics: Adult; Antibodies, Anticardiolipin; Autoantibodies; B-Lymphocytes; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Female; G(M1) Ganglioside; Gangliosides; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin M; Male; Meningoencephalitis; Middle Aged; Multiple Sclerosis; Myelin Basic Protein; Nervous System Diseases; Optic Neuritis; Recurrence; Sulfoglycosphingolipids

Immune mechanisms contribute to cerebral ischemic injury. Therapeutic immunosuppressive options are limited due to systemic side effects. We attempted to achieve immunosuppression in the brain through oral tolerance to myelin basic protein (MBP). Lewis rats were fed low-dose bovine MBP or ovalbumin (1 mg, five times) before 3 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). A third group of animals was sensitized to MBP but did not survive the post-stroke period. Infarct size at 24 and 96 h after ischemia was significantly less in tolerized animals. Tolerance to MBP was confirmed in vivo by a decrease in delayed-type hypersensitivity to MBP. Systemic immune responses, characterized in vitro by spleen cell proliferation to Con A, lipopolysaccharide, and MBP, again confirmed antigen-specific immunologic tolerance. Immunohistochemistry revealed transforming growth factor beta1 production by T cells in the brains of tolerized but not control animals. Systemic transforming growth factor beta1 levels were equivalent in both groups. Corticosterone levels 24 h after surgery were elevated in all sham-operated animals and ischemic control animals but not in ischemic tolerized animals. These results demonstrate that antigen-specific modulation of the immune response decreases infarct size after focal cerebral ischemia and that sensitization to the same antigen may actually worsen outcome.

Topics: Animals; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Corticosterone; Hypersensitivity, Delayed; Immune Tolerance; Immunohistochemistry; Ischemic Attack, Transient; Male; Myelin Basic Protein; Rats; Rats, Inbred Lew; Transforming Growth Factor beta

Myelin basic protein (MBP) was measured in the serum and CSF of patients with acute cerebrovascular disease (CVD, 34 cases), demyelinating disorders (DMD, 30 cases) and other neurological diseases (OND, 26 cases) by using a double antibody radioimmunoassay (RIA). Patients with acute CVD had a mean serum MBP concentration and positivity rate much higher than those with DMD and OND. The differences were significant (P < 0.05). In CSF, MBP levels in patients with acute CVD and patients with DMD were significantly greater than those in OND patients (P < 0.05). The results also show that there was a linear relationship between the CSF MBP levels and the serum MBP levels in patients with acute CVD (r = 0.72, P < 0.01), but no such relationship in patients with DMD and OND. The amount of serum MBP was also significantly correlated to the severity of acute CVD, to the level of consciousness disorder and limb paralysis, and to the extent and site of the cerebral lesion at CT-scan (P < 0.05). This study shows that the measurement of brain specific MBP in serum as a marker of cerebral damage may have clinical value in the diagnosis and prognosis of patients with CVD.

Topics: Cerebral Hemorrhage; Cerebral Infarction; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Humans; Multiple Sclerosis; Myelin Basic Protein; Polyradiculoneuropathy; Radioimmunoassay

T cell reactivities to the putative autoantigens myelin basic protein (MBP), MBP peptides with amino acid residues 110-128 and 148-165, and myelin proteolipid protein (PLP) were examined in patients with acute ischaemic cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and, for comparison, in patients with inflammatory neurological diseases and other neurological diseases. A quantitative measure of these T cell reactivities was obtained by assessing numbers of T cells among blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) mononuclear cells that secreted IFN-gamma in response to antigen in vitro. Higher numbers of T cells reactive with each of these four antigens were detected in peripheral blood from patients with CVD compared with patients of the two control groups. Among blood cells from the CVD patients, their average number was 2.3-4.2/10(5) mononuclear cells. MBP reactive T cells were several-fold enriched in the CSF of CVD patients. The findings strongly suggest that brain damage in context with acute CVD leads to an in vivo expansion of myelin reactive T cells.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Female; Humans; Interferon-gamma; Male; Middle Aged; Myelin Basic Protein; Myelin Proteins; Myelin Proteolipid Protein; Peptide Fragments; T-Lymphocytes

Topics: Antibodies; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Encephalitis; Humans; Multiple Sclerosis; Myelin Basic Protein

Using purified human brain myelin basic protein (MBP) to raise antiserum in rabbits and to prepare 125I-labelled MBP (chloramine-T method), We have established a high specific, precise and sensitive double-antibody radioimmunoassay for the measurement of human serum MBP. The sensitivity was 0.5 ng/ml. In the present study, the serum samples of thirty patients with various neurological diseases were detected. An important clinical implication is that serum MBP level should serve as an index for the damage degree of central neurological diseases.

Topics: Animals; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Multiple Sclerosis; Myelin Basic Protein; Radioimmunoassay; Rats

Topics: Antibodies; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Encephalitis; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Humans; Multiple Sclerosis; Myelin Basic Protein; Prognosis

The nervous system specific proteins glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAp), S-100 and myelin basic protein (MBP) were determined in 535 human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples. The level of all three proteins was increased in CSF of patients with nonselective destructive central nervous tissue disease such as encephalitis, cerebrovascular disease or tumoural compression. The increases in GFAp were more constant, making it a better marker of CNS pathology. Increases in MBP in CSF of patients with acute demyelinating disease were confirmed. S-100 did not seem to give more information as GFAp. Isolated increases of GFAp could be demonstrated in patients with dementia (Alzheimer type or multi-infarct dementia) or syringomyelia. Since CNS of these patients is very rich in fibrillary astrocytes, containing large amounts of GFAp, it is suggested that GFAp is to be considered as a specific marker of fibrillary gliosis in CSF and can be used as a diagnostic tool in dementia and syringomyelia.

Topics: Cerebrovascular Disorders; Dementia; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; Humans; Multiple Sclerosis; Myelin Basic Protein; Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Neoplasms; Polyradiculoneuropathy; S100 Proteins; Syringomyelia

In patients with intracranial tumors (ICT) and acute cerebral infarctions (CI), both necrosis and reversible changes occur in central nervous system (CNS) tissue. The damaged CNS cells release specific substances into the cerebrospinal fluid (CFS). Radioimmunoassay (RIA)-determined myelin basic protein (MBP) and RIA-determined creatine kinase BB (CK-BB) are markers of damage to CNS specific structures. The elevated CSF level of MBP is considered a marker of myelin damage and the increased concentration of CSF CK-BB may be of combined neuronal and astrocytic origin. CSF was collected from 57 patients with the diagnosis of CI (n = 30) and ICT (n = 27) and the concentration of MBP and CK-BB were measured by RIA. Our study shows increased CSF levels of MBP and CK-BB in patients with CI and patients with ICT. We have also found a linear correlation between MBP and CK-BB in both CI and ICT, and for a given CK-BB level, MBP was significantly higher in patients with ICT than in patients with CI. These facts suggest that lesion markers behave differently in the different pathologic processes affecting the CNS.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Brain Neoplasms; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Child; Child, Preschool; Creatine Kinase; Female; Humans; Isoenzymes; Male; Middle Aged; Myelin Basic Protein

The molecular size of myelin basic protein (MBP) immunoactivity in spinal fluid from patients with multiple sclerosis, acute stroke or who had gone through neurosurgery was determined by gel filtration. Gel filtration fractions were analysed for MBP by radioimmunoassay. Spinal fluid from all patients demonstrated a broad range of MBP immunoactivity. The neurosurgery and stroke cases had high MBP immunoactivity in the higher molecular range, around 67 000 daltons. The spinal fluid from MS patients had increased levels of low molecular size MBP immunoactivity, around 10-13 000 daltons. The results suggest that different forms of demyelinating processes give rise to various kinds of MBP fragments and/or different proteolytic activity on MBP within the spinal fluid space.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Albumins; Animals; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Chromatography, Gel; Epitopes; Histones; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Middle Aged; Molecular Weight; Multiple Sclerosis; Myelin Basic Protein; Rabbits; Radioimmunoassay

A solid phase competitive assay for human myelin basic protein (MBP) has been developed using a monoclonal antibody to MBP. The assay has been applied to the detection of antigenic peptides derived from MBP, the measurement of anti-idiotypic antibody and the detection of MBP in human serum.

Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antigen-Antibody Reactions; Antilymphocyte Serum; Binding Sites, Antibody; Binding, Competitive; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Humans; Immunoglobulin Idiotypes; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Myelin Basic Protein; Radioimmunoassay

Autoimmunity to a neural antigen is a suspected cause of multiple sclerosis (MS), and a candidate autoantigen is myelin basic protein (MBP). Accordingly, saline extracts of brain from patients with MS and other diseases were prepared and the content of immunoglobulin (Ig) determined. Antibody to MBP was measured with a highly-sensitive solid-phase radioimmunoassay using 125I-staphylococcal Protein A. Anti-MBP activity was detected in brain extracts of all eleven MS patients, and in seven out of the eight brain extracts from the patients with other diseases; however the level of anti-MBP activity was significantly higher in the MS extracts (P less than 0.01). Analysis of the MS brain extracts after purification by affinity chromatography columns revealed that the anti-MBP activity was specifically mediated by IgG and resided in the IgG1, IgG2, and/or IgG4 subclasses.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antibodies; Brain; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Chromatography, Affinity; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Male; Middle Aged; Multiple Sclerosis; Myelin Basic Protein; Radioimmunoassay; Staphylococcal Protein A

Topics: Cerebrovascular Disorders; Humans; Myelin Basic Protein; Radioimmunoassay; Spinal Cord Diseases

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 105 patients was analyzed by radioimmunoassay for the presence of material cross-reactive with peptide 89-169 of bovine myelin basic protein (BP). In a group of 72 multiple sclerosis patients, 52 showed higher BP content than the control group, i.e. more than 2 ng/ml CSF. Increased BP or BP fragments could be detected in CSF from almost all patients who recently (within 2 weeks) had had an acute episode, or after deterioration in the progressive form of the disease. Fifteen to 30 days after the onset of exacerbation or in a stable period, BP content decreases and in the slowly progressive form was in the range of the control group with one exception. BP content was also elevated in the CSF of patients with other neurological diseases. The presence of BP in the CSF from patients with isolated retrobulbar neuritis is of particular interest. Thus the presence of material cross-reactive with BP fragment 89-169 is not specific for multiple sclerosis, but is a useful parameter in diagnosis and evaluation of MS.

Topics: Cerebrovascular Disorders; Humans; Multiple Sclerosis; Myelin Basic Protein; Nervous System Diseases; Neurosyphilis; Optic Neuritis; Polyradiculoneuropathy; Radioimmunoassay

Topics: Animals; Cattle; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Humans; Multiple Sclerosis; Myelin Basic Protein; Nervous System Diseases; Radioimmunoassay; Spinal Cord Diseases

Myelin basic protein-like immunoactivity was measured in the serum of patients after cerebrovascular accident (CVA) using a double antibody radioimmunoassay for myelin basic protein with a detection limit of 3 ng/ml serum. For up to 6 days after ictus, serum myelin basic protein levels in patients with severe CVA and patients who died as a result of CVA were significantly greater than those in control patients, patients with moderate CVA and patients surviving CVA. All patients with serum myelin basic protein levels greater than the range found in control subjects subsequently died. Serial dilutions of positive sera suggested that the immunoactivity differs from authentic myelin basic protein and may represent breakdown products of the protein. Serum from some patients with a previous history of moderate CVA had myelin basic protein binding activity consistent with the presence of antibodies to the protein.

Topics: Cerebrovascular Disorders; Humans; Myelin Basic Protein; Radioimmunoassay; Time Factors

A subpopulation of T lymphocytes sensitized to human myelin basic protein in peripheral blood of patients with multiple sclerosis, central nervous system (CNS) tumors, and cerebrovascular accidents was demonstrated by the antigen-stimulated, rosette-forming T-cell assay. A significant increase in the percent of active rosette-forming T cells was detected after in vitro exposure of peripheral blood lymphocytes to human myelin basic protein but not to histones. In contrast, peripheral blood lymphocytes from healthy controls and from patients with benign and malignant breast diseases were unresponsive to stimulation by either antigen. These results demonstrate a functionally active T-lymphocyte subpopulation sensitized to myelin basic protein in patients with multiple sclerosis and in patients with certain other CNS diseases.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Breast Diseases; Breast Neoplasms; Central Nervous System Diseases; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Histones; Humans; Middle Aged; Multiple Sclerosis; Myelin Basic Protein; Rosette Formation; T-Lymphocytes

Serum levels of myelin basic protein (M.B.P.), a nervous-system-specific protein, were measured in 157 patients after head injury and related both to the type of brain damage and to the clinical outcome assessed three months after injury. Mean concentrations of M.B.P. in patients with severe intracerebral damage, with or without associated extracerebral haematoma, were significantly raised at the time of admission and remained high for two weeks after injury. In patients with extracerebral haematoma not associated with severe intracerebral damage mean M.B.P. values rose four to six days after injury and were significantly raised only in patients with poor eventual outcome. Mean serum-M.B.P. concentrations in patients with a good outcome after injury were similar to those in controls. In patients with a poor outcome the mean M.B.P. levels between two and six days after injury were significantly higher than in those with a good outcome. The assay of serum-M.B.P. may be valuable in assessment of severity of brain damage in patients after head injury and in prediction of outcome.

Topics: Blood-Brain Barrier; Brain Diseases; Brain Injuries; Brain Neoplasms; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Craniocerebral Trauma; Hematoma; Humans; Myelin Basic Protein; Prognosis

29 guinea pigs, strain Pirbright, were infected with vaccinia virus, strain Elstree, by the dermal route. The observation period was 14 days. Thereafter, the animals were killed and their central nervous systems (CNS) histologically and immunohistologically, the blood fluorescence-serologically examined. Histological examination revealed meningitis, ependymitis or disseminated meningoencephalitis with slight perivascular cuffing in 72% of the animals. The viral antigen was found in 3 animals (10%). It was present most often in the cytoplasma of the arachnoidal and/or ependymal cells, as well as in the cells of the vessel walls and less often in the glial and/or nerve cells. The infected cells showed no severe degenerative changes. The blood-brain-barrier displayed localized disturbances. The examination of the myelin sheaths revealed disseminated foci of disappearance of myelin fluorescence in the perivascular, paraventricular and subcortical regions. Antibodies directed against myelin sheaths, or nerve cells could be detected in the sera of 48% of the animals. The results give evidence that the vaccinia infection is capable to induce a potentially pathogenic autoimmune reaction directed against brain. Such an immunomechanism can be triggered without any signs of acute lytic infection of the CNS. The mechanism and significance of this reaction are discussed.

Topics: Animals; Antibodies; Antibody Formation; Antigens; Autoimmune Diseases; Blood-Brain Barrier; Brain; Central Nervous System Diseases; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Ependyma; Guinea Pigs; Immune Sera; Immunity; Immunoglobulin G; Meningitis; Myelin Basic Protein; Vaccinia