Immune Reactivity Against Membranes Containing Ganglioside GM₁ in Chronic-Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: Observation by Spin-Membrane Immunoassay

Abstract

A spin-membrane immunoassay has been employed to examine the immune reactivity of whole serum from patients with chronic-progressive multiple sclerosis (CPMS) against liposomes containing ganglioside GM₁. Exposure to serum resulted in complement-mediated lysis of the GM₁-liposomes. No lysis occured with liposomes devoid of ganglioside. The mean (± S.E.M.) lysis values were 52.6 (± 9.8)% for fifteen CPMS patients and 32.9 (± 7.2)% for nine controls. The difference between the means was highly significant (student's t-test, P<0.0001), indicating increased anti-ganglioside immunity in patients with CPMS.