Biochemical findings in multiple sclerosis. V. Transformation of lymphocytes from patients with multiple sclerosis by human basic protein.

Lymphocyte stimulation tests with human basic protein of myelin were performed on patients with multiple sclerosis, with other neurological diseases and on normal subjects. In both MS and OND group, a hypersensitization to basic protein was seen in about one third of the cases. All normal subjects, except one, had negative responses. In the MS group, a positive correlation could be found with some features of the disease: significantly more positive responses were found in independent patients with a short duration of illness and in those with an oligoclonal distribution in the CSF. The authors compare their results with those of the literature. The possible role of BP in pathogeny of MS and OND is discussed.