Immunoglobulin Synthesis In Vitro by Cerebrospinal Fluid Cells in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Incubated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cells from patients with multiple sclerosis synthesized IgG and IgA in vitro. The synthesized IgG had an oligoclonal distribution and showed the same elcctrophoretic pattern as the IgG of the CSF. The amount synthesized was greater during exacerbations than during remissions. Blood lymphocytes from the same patients synthesized an IgG in vitro that showed a completely different electrophoretic pattern The amount IgG synthesized by the blood lymphocytes was less than the amount synthesized by the CSF cells. The results demonstrate that at least part of the oligoclonal IgG of the CSF of patients with multiple sclerosis is synthesized intrathecally and suggest that the CSF cells are antigenically stimulated in vivo.