The detection of brain antigens within the circulating immune complexes of patients with multiple sclerosis.

Immune complexes isolated from sera of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) were analyzed for their antigenic content. Immune complexes precipitated with polyethylene glycol were inoculated into rabbits. The antisera raised were shown to react to MS and normal brain antigens by crossed immunoelectrophoresis, ELISA and nitrocellulose transfer. Additionally, these antisera reacted by co-precipitation with the measles nucleocapsid antigen. As persistent viral infection has not been shown to occur in MS, these studies support the possibility that brain antigens within the immune complex share antigenic determinants with a specific viral antigen seen earlier in life by the host.