Enhancement of encephalitogenic activity by the formation of myelin basic protein-brain acidic protein complex.

Encephalitogenic protein fraction (BEC) was isolated from bovine brain tissue by extraction with salt-ethanol mixture at neutral pH, instead of employing dilute mineral acid. The fraction BEC was separated into two fractions. An acid-soluble protein was encephalitogenic and the major component was very alike to the basic protein of myelin (Al). The other was acid-insoluble acidic protein that was not encephalitogenic even at a dose of 100 mug. The acidic protein formed an insoluble complex with Al rotein which was purified by Eylar's method. Encephalitogenic activity of the complex was higher than Al protein in young guinea pigs when injected with complete Freund's adjuvant.However, this enhancement of encephalitogenic activity was not observed in aged guinea pigs. The complex showed higher blastogenic activity than Al protein alone with peripheral blood lymphocytes from guinea pigs immunized with Al protein and complete Freund's adjuvant. These results show that an adjuvant-like acidic protein is present in brain tissue and the complex with Al protein enhances the induction of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE).