Optic neuritis: local synthesis in the central nervous system of oligoclonal antibodies to measles, mumps, rubella, and herpes simplex viruses.

Antibodies to measles, mumps, rubella and herpes simplex type 1 viruses in serum and CSF of 10 patients with acute monosymptomatic optic neuritis were characterized by imprint electro-immunofixation (IEIF). Comparisons of the IEIF antibody patterns in serum and CSF indicated that a local synthesis in the central nervous system of oligoclonal virus antibodies took place in five of the 10 patients. Three of the five patients had a local synthesis of antibody to more than one type of virus. Oligoclonal IgG was detected by agarose electrophoresis of the CSF in four of the five patients with a local synthesis of virus antibodies. There was, however, no association between the locally synthesized antibodies and the oligoclonal CSF IgG, indicating that they account for only a minor fraction of the locally synthesized IgG in these patients. In the fifth patient, distinct fractions of locally synthesized virus-specific oligoclonal Ig were detected by the IEIF method, although the agarose electrophoresis showed a normal pattern of CSF IgG.