Anti-endothelial cell antibody and immune complexes in the sera of animals with acute experimental allergic encephalomyelitis and chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) injury occurs in both acute and chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). Sera from animals in which these forms of EAE had been induced were examined for anti-endothelial cell antibodies and immune complexes by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using either cultured endothelial cells or Raji cells. IgG binding to endothelial cells was significantly increased in the sera of animals with acute EAE and chronic relapsing EAE, compared to controls. Increased levels of circulating immune complexes were also detected in the sera of some animals with chronic relapsing EAE, especially those in an exacerbation. It is suggested that the anti-endothelial cell antibody and immune complexes detected may play pathogenetic roles in the destruction of the BBB in EAE.