A technique for the elution of cell-surface antibody from human brain tissue.

An artificial system is described in which anti-dinitrophenyl (DNP) antibody attaches to hapten-conjugated human brain tissue. Treatment of this material with acetic acid at pH 2.5 to 3.0 for 90 seconds followed by immediate neutralization results in dissociation of antibody from the hapten-conjugated brain. Less than 1 ng of specific antibody can be detected, as determined by the ability of eluted material to combine with DNP in an established radioimmunoassay system. Similar methods may be applied to neurological disorders in which immunoglobulins are thought to be produced in the central nervous system.