Serum antibodies against glycosphingolipids in chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. Demonstration by ELISA and relation to serum in vivo demyelinating activity.

Sera from guinea pigs with spinal cord-induced chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (crEAE) were tested for IgG antibodies against glycosphingolipids (GSL; galactocerebroside, ganglioside GM1, sulfatide) by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and for in vivo demyelinating activity by infusion into the lumbosacral subarachnoid space of normal rats. In chronic stage-crEAE sera (40-200 days after sensitization) a high incidence (21/26) and high titers (up to 1:2560) of antibodies against one or more GSL coincided with a high incidence (22/26) of in vivo demyelinating activity. These results suggest an involvement of antibodies against various GSL in the process of demyelination.