Studies on the Pathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Protein composition of myelin and white matter was analysed in 8 multiple sclerosis (MS), 2 sub- acute sclerosing panencephalitis and 1 postvaccinal leucoencephalitis autopsy samples. Special attention was paid to basic or encephalitogenic protein because its possible role in the pathogenesis of MS has been suggested by numerous authors. We found decreased quantities of encephalitogenic protein in MS myelin samples but on the other hand the proportion of basic protein was normal in SSPE myelin. However, when freeze-dried whole tissue samples were analysed the basic protein was decreased most in MS cases but also moderately in SSPE and leucoencephalitis. These results suggest a different mechanism in demyelination for MS and SSPE. The results of our earlier reports suggest early changes in glia cells and the loss of basic protein seems to be only one of the later features of MS.