Indicators of disease activity in multiple sclerosis. Studies of myelin basic protein-like materials.

Defining the immunochemical basis for the detection of BP peptides in body fluids has led to an appreciation of the complexity of the number and location of epitopes in BP peptide 43-88. There appear to be roles for epitopes based on both sequence and conformation of these small peptides. Antisera to some of the fragments of BP peptide 43-88 may have restricted reactivity with BP peptide 43-88 and BP. The amount of BP-like material that enters CSF and cross-reacts with BP peptide 43-88 is related to the recognition of an epitope or epitopes in the C-terminal portion of this peptide. The immunochemical detection of BP peptides in body fluids is dependent on the precise identification of the BP peptides present.