Multiple sclerosis immune complexes: an analysis of component antigens and antibodies.

Serum immune complexes were isolated from 21 patients with multiple sclerosis and 23 control subjects, who were normal or had other neurological diseases, and then probed for neurotropic viral and brain-reactive components. Multiple sclerosis complexes contained antibody to herpes simplex (13 cases), measles (8 cases), cytomegalovirus (5 cases), and rubella virus (5 cases). In some complexes, herpes simplex or cytomegalovirus antigen was detected along with antibody. Myelin basic protein or antibody to myelin basic protein was found in the complexes of 7 patients with multiple sclerosis and 2 patients with other neurological diseases. Serum complexes containing antibody reactive with galactocerebroside and ganglioside were present in 12 patients with multiple sclerosis and 3 with other neurological diseases. Over 60% of the multiple sclerosis group had IgM and IgA serum complexes, including 5 patients with very high IgA complex levels. This study suggests that patients with multiple sclerosis have ongoing systemic virus production with resultant immune complex formation. In addition, they often have serum complexes that contain brain-reactive components.