Interaction of multiple sclerosis serum with liposomes containing ganglioside GM1.

Multiple sclerosis serum contains a factor or factors capable of releasing sequestered [14C]glucose from liposomes containing GM1, the major ganglioside present in human central nervous system myelin. Although some control sera can also release large quantities of liposomal glucose, multiple sclerosis and control sera differ in the mechanism of this release. Liposomal damage by multiple sclerosis serum does not appear to be complement mediated, but shares certain releasing characteristics of cholera toxin.