Mild encephalitogenic activity of basic protein--acidic lipid complex from myelin and detection of immune complexes in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis

Abstract

Further biochemical and pathological investigation of basic protein--acidic lipid complex from canine cerebral myelin show the presence of sulfatide, phosphatidylserine, ganglioside and basic protein in the molar ratio of approximately 6 : 3 : 1 : 1 and that it is associated with mild encephalitogenic activity in guinea pigs in comparison to intact myelin and basic protein. Circulating immune complexes were detected in the sera of guinea pigs with clinical signs of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis and immunofluorescent staining showed the deposition of immune complexes of immunoglobulin and complement in vessels of white matter and meninges and in the choroid plexus.