Pathological role of double-stranded DNA antibodies in multiple sclerosis.

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis is a complex disease and one for which the aetiology remains largely unanswered. Anti-dsDNA antibodies have been found intrathecally and bordering lesions in multiple sclerosis patients and in view of their known pathogenity in lupus nephritis the aim of this project was to further investigate their role in multiple sclerosis. Using the acute experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) model in the Lewis rat, the inflammatory phase of disease was profiled using immunohistological and ELISA methods and was related to clinical sign severity. The parameters of interest were central nervous system deposits of IgM, IgG, B cells and C3 and anti-DNA antibodies in sera, cerebrospinal fluid and in situ. In situ evaluation of anti-dsDNA antibodies was also performed in tissue taken from Biozzi (AH) mice (relapsing/remitting EAE model) and from a multiple sclerosis patient. Inflammatory deposits specifically at sites of perivascular cuffing were found to increase with increasing clinical sign severity. At the time clinical signs had plateaued in the Lewis rat, intrathecal anti-dsDNA antibodies were at their highest level and anti-ssDNA antibodies at their lowest. The latter possibly due to their involvement in the `clearing-up¿ process following tissue damage. Using novel DNA probes fluorescence suggestive of the presence of anti-dsDNA iii antibodies was seen in both animal and human tissue. Within human tissue the antibodies appeared to accumulate around active lesions and within vessels, raising the question of these antibodies having differing location dependent functions. EAE models have the potential to investigate these findings further and to evaluate new therapies.