Measles antibodies, kappa-lambda light chain distribution and immunoglobulins in serum, cerebrospinal fluid and brain of a patient affected with multiple sclerosis

Abstract

The serum, cerebrospinal (CSF) and brain of a patient (NAG) affected with multiple sclerosis (MS) were examined for measles antibodies with CF and HI techniques, and the kappa-lambda light chain ratios of all samples available were evaluated, kappa-lambda populations of the matched serum, CSF and brain specimens were all lambda-predominant and in agreement with each other; the light chain distribution f the brain specimens confirmed previous findings [3]. Only the serum immunoglobulins showed significant measles antibody titers, but slightly increased measles antibody titers were also observed in ventricular plaques. The amount of immunoglobulin G (IgG) synthesized per day by the central nervous system (CNS) was estimated. The IgG synthesis in CNS NAG (11.6 mg/day) was above the upper limit of the normal range (3.3 mg/day), but apparently there was no positive correlation between the intracerebral IgG synthesis and specific anti-measles IgG.