CSF oligoclonal bands in MS include antibodies against Chlamydophila antigens

Background: Considerable evidence suggests the role of an infectious agent in MS. The presence of Chlamydophila pneumoniae in CSF from patients with M S was shown earlier; to further examine this association the reactivity of the oligoclonal antibody response in the CSF of patients with MS to C pneum oniae antigens was determined and compared with other antigens. Methods: Se venteen patients with MS and 14 control subjects with other neurologic dise ase were studied. Affinity-driven immunoblot studies and solid-phase adsorp tion of CSF oligoclonal bands by elementary body antigens of C pneumoniae, viral antigens (measles and herpes simplex virus-1), bacterial antigen (Esc herichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus), and heat shock protein-60 were pe rformed. Results: Affinity-driven immunoblot studies demonstrated reactivit y of oligoclonal bands in CSF samples from 16 patients with MS against elem entary body antigens of C pneumoniae. None of the control subjects showed a prominent reactivity to elementary body antigens of C pneumoniae. In 14 of 17 patients with MS examined, oligoclonal bands were adsorbed either parti ally or completely from the CSF by elementary body antigens of C pneumoniae , but not by myelin basic protein, heat shock protein-60, or bacterial or v iral antigens. In three patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, adsorption of oligoclonal bands was seen with measles virus antigens but no t with elementary body antigens of C pneumoniae. Conclusions: Oligoclonal b ands in CSF of patients with MS include antibodies against Chlamydophila an tigens.