Association of measles antibody activity with electrophoretic fractions of CSF in a patient with multiple sclerosis

Lymphocytotoxic antibodies in family members of patients with multiple sclerosis

Cold-reactive lymphocytotoxic antibodies were found in sera from 14 of 21 (67%) patients with multiple sclerosis. A significantly (p less than 0.01) greater frequency of these antibodies was also demonstrated in patients' household members (12 of 18 [67%]) compared to siblings living elsewhere (3 of 14 [21%]) or normal controls (1 of 13 [8%]). No difference in antibody frequency was found between consanguineous and non-consanguineous family members. These findings suggest that the increase frequency of lymphocytotoxic antibodies in these multiple-sclerosis patients and their family members is an indicator of the presence of a transmissible agent, probably a virus, in many patients with multiple sclerosis.

Persistent infection of tissue culture cells by RNA viruses

In this paper, the characteristics of cultured cells persistently infected with RNA viruses, other than leuko viruses are described. The roles that the host cell, interferon, virus mutants and defective interfering particles may play in the establishment and maintenance of persistent infection are discussed. It is proposed that the interaction of viruses with certain types of host cells can lead to persistent infection. The differences in virus-host interactions may be attributable to differences in membrane properties of various cells. Defective interfering particles may play a role in the establishment of persistent infections in cells which normally undergo lytic virus development. Mutant types of virus appear to be prominent in the virus released from persistently infected cells, but the role that various mutants play in the maintenance of persistent infections remains unclear.

Measles virus-specific IgG in cerebrospinal fluid in multiple sclerosis

The prevalence of measles virus-specific IgG in cerebrospinal fluid (C.S.F.) of patients with multiple sclerosis (M.S.) has been compared with that in fluids from patients with other neurological diseases and from normal control subjects. The prevalence in the three groups was 58.1%, 24.1%, and 0% respectively. Fivefold concentration of the specimens increased the prevalence in the first two groups to 80.6% and 34.5% respectively, while measles IgG was not detected in any fluids of the normal control group, even after concentration.