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Immunological reactions against Mycoplasma pneumoniae in multiple sclerosis: preliminary findings

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Summary

Humoral and cellular immune reactions against Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MPn) were investigated in 18 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. All patients were in the remission stage. Complement-fixing antibodies against MPn were present in serum and cerebrospinal fluid, concentrated to contain the same protein levels. The CSF titres after concentration were as high as or higher than the corresponding serum titres, thus indicating intrathecal antibody production. Sensitization to MPn was demonstrable in all 18 MS patients by the antigen-reactive active E-rosette assay and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity assay, in 17 of the 18 patients by the lymphocyte transformation test and in 8 patients by the cell-mediated cytotoxicity assay. The possibility of a pathogenetic role of MPn for MS is discussed.

Zusammenfassung

Bei 18 Patienten mit Multipler Sklerose (MS) wurden die humoralen und zellulären Immunreaktionen gegen Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MPn) untersucht. Komplementbindende Antikörper gegen MPn waren im Serum und Liquor cerebrospinalis nachzuweisen. Die Titer waren in den Liquorproben — welche bis zum Eiweißgehalt des Serums konzentriert waren — gleich hoch oder höher als die entsprechenden Serumtiter. Dies deutet auf eine intrathekale Antikörperproduktion hin. Eine zelluläre Sensibilisierung gegen MPn zeigte sich bei allen 18 MS-Patienten im antigen-reaktiven aktiven E-Rosetten-Test und im antikörperabhängigen zellulären Zytotoxizitätstest, bei 17 Patienten im Lymphozytentransformationstest und bei 8 Patienten im zell-vermittelten Zytotoxizitätstest. Es wird die Möglichkeit einer pathogenetischen Bedeutung von MPn für die MS diskutiert.

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  1. Neurologische Universitätsklinik, Lazarettgasse 14, A-1090, Vienna, Austria

    E. Maida

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  1. E. Maida
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Maida, E. Immunological reactions against Mycoplasma pneumoniae in multiple sclerosis: preliminary findings. J Neurol 229, 103–111 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00313449

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00313449

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