Analysis of antibody reactivity in paired cerebrospinal fluid and serum of a relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis patient

Abstract

Increasing evidence indicates an involvement of B cells in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, little is known about antigenic targets recognized by antibodies present in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of MS patients. This study was therefore aimed at identifying the antigen reactivity of antibodies present in CSF and compares the identified antibody profile with that of the serum of the same patient using cDNA phage display. Selection rounds on paired CSF and serum of this patient identified 13 antigenic targets of which 5 were enriched by serum antibodies and 2 were identified by CSF antibodies. Interestingly, the six remaining antigenic targets were shown to be recognized by both CSF and serum antibodies. These findings point towards both common as well as distinct antibody profiles in CSF and serum of MS patients.

Keywords::

• Multiple sclerosis
• cDNA phage display
• antibodies
• CSF
• serum

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant from the Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds Limburg (BOF) of Hasselt University and by the transnational University Limburg (tUL). The authors would like to thank Niels Hellings for helpful discussion, Igna Rutten for technical assistance, Jerome Hendriks and Evi Lemmens for assistance in analyzing the immunohistochemical images, Bertine Timmermans for the patient data and Dr M.B. Soares for providing the MS cDNA library.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.