MEASLES-SPECIFIC IGG IN CSF AND SERUM FROM PATIENTS WITH SUB-ACUTE SCLEROSING PANENCEPHALITIS

Abstract

Sera and CSF from 5 subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) patients were absorbed with a concentrated preparation of African green monkey kidney Vero cell cultures infected with measles virus. The precipitates containing measles antigen-antibody complexes were washed and measles-specific IgG was eluted at low pH. When the profiles of measles-specific IgG eluted from sera and the corresponding CSF were compared in immunofixation after isoelectric focusing they showed almost identical oligoclonal band patterns with respect to number, intensity, isoelectric point and L chain class. The same cell clones apparently are responsible for the synthesis of measles-specific IgG in the CNS and serum of patients with SSPE.