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Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, detection methods of autoantibodies, multiple sclerosis, ADEM
Abstract:
B cells and antibodies constitute an important element in different inflammatory
diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). Autoantibodies can serve as a biomarker to
identify disease subgroups and may in addition contribute to the pathogenic process. One
candidate autoantigen for multiple sclerosis (MS) is myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein
(MOG). MOG is localized at the outermost surface of myelin in the CNS and has been the focus
of extensive research for more than 30 years. Its role as an important autoantigen for T cells
and as a target of demyelinating autoantibodies has been established in several variants of
experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS. The literature
regarding antibodies to MOG in MS patients is confusing and contradictory. Recent studies,
however, have described high levels of antibodies to conformationally correct MOG in pediatric
acquired demyelination, both acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) and MS. In adult
MS, such antibodies are rarely found and then only at low levels. In this review, we summarize
key findings from animal models and patient studies, discuss challenges in detecting anti-MOG
antibodies in patients and present recent approaches to identifying new autoantigens in MS.
