Oral tolerance in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. III. Evidence for clonal anergy.

We have recently reported that experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) can be suppressed by the oral administration of myelin basic protein (MBP). The oral introduction of 20 mg MBP together with a trypsin inhibitor results in inhibition of EAE clinical signs, decreased CNS histopathologic changes and dramatically reduced MBP-specific proliferative responses in fed and challenged Lewis rats. In the present study, we have investigated the mechanism underlying MBP-induced oral tolerance in EAE. Neither lymphoid cells (lymph node cells, spleen cells, Peyer's patch lymphocytes, thymocytes) nor humoral elements derived from tolerant donors were capable of transferring the tolerance to naive recipients. Moreover, lymphoid cells obtained from orally tolerant donors exhibited a marked decrease in their capacity to transfer EAE to naive recipient rats, even after in vitro activation with MBP or Con A. We observed that EAE could be readily transferred into orally tolerant rats using MBP-specific encephalitogenic T cell lines. In vitro cell mixing studies showed that the proliferation of lymphocytes from MBP-sensitized donors was not inhibited by the addition of lymphoid cells from tolerant donors, arguing against the role of a suppressor cell. Investigation of MBP-stimulated lymphokine production showed that both IL-2 and IFN-gamma levels were substantially decreased in spleen and lymph node cell cultures from MBP-fed rats compared to vehicle-fed control animals. Furthermore, limiting dilution analyses revealed that MBP-fed rats exhibited a profound decrease in MBP-reactive, IL-2-secreting lymphocytes relative to control animals. Thus, because lymphocytes from MBP-fed rats neither proliferate nor secrete IL-2 or IFN-gamma in response to MBP and we can find no compelling evidence for the role of suppressor cells, we propose that the oral administration of MBP results in a state of clonal anergy.     

Correlation of cytotoxicity with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.

Cytotoxicity of immune lymph node cells in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) was maximal 9 days after injection of encephalitogenic emulsion. The ability of these cells to passively transfer EAE was also maximal at this time. Immune spleen cells were more cytotoxic than lymph node cells 9 days after injection; however, these cells did not passively transfer EAE. Twelve days after injection of encephalitogenic emulsion immune spleen cells passively transferred EAE with resulting mild histopathologic lesions. At this time the spleen cells were 50% more cytotoxic than comparable lymph node cells. Cyclophosphamide suppressed the development of clinical EAE and the development of cytotoxic lymphoid cells. It also reduced clinical signs and cytotoxic activity of lymph node cells. Spleen cell cytotoxic activity was enhanced by Cyclophosphamide. It was concluded that cytotoxic activity of lymph node and spleen cells was correlated with the ability of these cells to produce EAE. Lymph node cell populations differed qualitatively and/or quantitatively from immune spleen cell populations in EAE. Capacity to passively transfer EAE coincided with the maximal Cytotoxicity of the lymphoid cells from each tissue.     

Functional heterogeneity among CD4+ encephalitogenic T cells in recruitment of CD8+ T cells in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Inoculation of Lewis rats with live or attenuated (irradiated or paraformaldehyde-fixed) CD4+ encephalitogenic T cells (S1 line) protects the recipients from transferred experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (tEAE) induced by S1 cells. A CD8+ T lymphocyte population specifically activated against the EAE-inducing S1 cells can be readily isolated from the lymphoid organs of pretreated animals. We show, in the present study, that encephalitogenic T cell lines derived from Lewis rats differ in their ability to induce resistance against tEAE in vivo and to stimulate CD8+ cell proliferation in vitro. We also demonstrate that the S19 line of encephalitogenic T cells, in combination with myelin basic protein (MBP), can stimulate CD8+ cell proliferation in vitro. The CD8+ cells generated in this way strongly suppress MBP-specific T cell proliferation in vitro. This combined effect of T cells and MBP was also evident in vivo. Neither S19 cells nor MBP alone induced resistance against S19-mediated tEAE, rather coinjection of these cells and MBP was required. Our results suggest that resistance to EAE is mediated by distinct populations of encephalitogenic T cells that activate Ts cells through different mechanisms. In some instances, both autoreactive T cells and their relevant autoantigen(s) may be needed to activate Ts cells in vivo.     

LF 15-0195 inhibits the development of rat central nervous system autoimmunity by inducing long-lasting tolerance in autoreactive CD4 T cells

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a T cell-dependent autoimmune disease induced in susceptible animals by a single immunization with myelin basic protein (MBP). LF 15-0195 is a novel immunosuppressor that has been shown to have a potent immunosuppressive effect in several pathological manifestations. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of this drug on the induction and progression of established rat EAE and to dissect the mechanisms involved. We show that LF 15-0195 administration at the time of MBP immunization reduces the incidence and severity of EAE in Lewis rats. This drug also inhibits ongoing and passively induced EAE, indicating that LF 15-0195 affects already differentiated pathogenic lymphocytes. Compared with lymph node cells from untreated rats, lymphocytes from MBP-immunized rats treated with LF 15-0195 proliferated equally well in response to MBP in vitro, while their ability to produce effector cytokines and to transfer EAE into syngeneic recipients was significantly reduced. This phenomenon is stable and long-lasting. Indeed, neither IL-12 nor repeated stimulation with naive APC and MBP in vitro rendered MBP-specific CD4 T cells from protected rats encephalitogenic. In conclusion, LF 15-0195 treatment suppresses EAE by interfering with both the differentiation and effector functions of autoantigen-specific CD4 T cells.     

Decreased IL-12 production underlies the decreased ability of male lymph node cells to induce experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Myelin basic protein (MBP)-specific T lymphocytes from male SJL mice were shown to be less encephalitogenic than MBP-specific T lymphocytes from females. Mechanisms underlying this gender difference in the induction phase of EAE were examined. Following immunization with MBP, draining lymph nodes contained fewer cells, and Ag-specific proliferative responses were decreased in males as compared with females. These gender differences in the proliferative response were not unique to MBP-specific responses since they were also observed after immunization with hen eggwhite lysozyme. Short-term MBP-specific T cell lines derived from females and males mapped with identical specificity, indicating no defect in the ability of male APCs to process Ag. Interestingly, IL-12 and IFN-gamma production was decreased following Ag-specific stimulation of draining lymph node cells (LNC) from males as compared with females, but IL-10 and IL-4 were no different. While male-derived LNCs were less encephalitogenic than female derived LNCs, cotransfer and coculture of male LNCs with female LNCs demonstrated that male LNCs were not immunosuppressive. Administration of IL-12 to LNCs from male mice enhanced encephalitogenicity. These data indicate that deficient endogenous IL-12 production within draining LNCs of male SJL mice is central to gender differences in the induction phase of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.     

Competition between foreign and self proteins in antigen presentation. Ovalbumin can inhibit activation of myelin basic protein-specific T cells.

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an inflammatory neurological disease initiated by activated T cells specific for the autoantigen, myelin basic protein (MBP). The ability of Lewis rat splenic T cells to transfer EAE after in vitro incubation with MBP-pulsed dendritic cells (DC) was used as an index of MBP-specific T cell activation. OVA, previously processed by macrophages, was incubated with MBP and DC at the pulsing stage to determine whether it could inhibit presentation of the autoantigen. At molar equivalents of 2.5:1 and 20:1 relative to MBP, processed OVA increasingly inhibited the ability of DC to activate MBP-specific T cells for EAE transfer. Unprocessed OVA, which cannot be presented immunogenically by Lewis rat DC, was much less effective. However, processed OVA added to DC after they had been pulsed with MBP could not compete. OVA also blocked appearance of EAE when mixed with MBP/CFA in the inoculum used for active induction of the disease. Splenic T cells from MBP + OVA/CFA-immunized rats transferred EAE with a substantially delayed onset, suggesting that a reduced number of MBP-specific T cells was generated by immunizing with the OVA + MBP mixture compared with MBP alone. Overall, the data indicate that fragments of a foreign protein, OVA, which can be bound by APC, can also inhibit presentation of encephalitogenic determinants of MBP to T cells.     

Encephalitogenic and proliferative responses of Lewis rat lymphocytes distinguished by position 75- and 80-substituted peptides of myelin basic protein

The encephalitogenic and proliferative responses of Lewis rat lymphocytes were defined by use of synthetic peptide GP68-84, representing the 68-84 sequence of guinea pig myelin basic protein (GPMBP), and otherwise identical peptides containing substitutions of either A75 or P80 residues. The comparative activities of these peptides were tested in the following bioassays: 1) active induction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), 2) potentiation of EAE transfer activity by MBP- or peptide-sensitized lymph node cells (LNC), 3) in vitro proliferation of MBP- or peptide-sensitized LNC, and 4) in vitro proliferation of an encephalitogenic T cell line. The GP68-84 peptide exhibited potent activity in all four bioassays. In contrast, [A75]GP68-84 and [P80]GP68-84 exhibited a selective loss of certain activities while retaining activity in other bioassays. For example, LNC were activated by culture with [A75]GP68-84 to express potentiated EAE transfer activity. Furthermore, [A75]GP68-84 and GP68-84 were equipotent in stimulating the proliferation of the encephalitogenic T cell line. However, [A75]GP68-84 was virtually inactive in assays measuring the induction of EAE or the proliferation of either GPMBP- or [A75]GP68-84-sensitized LNC. Conversely, the [P80]GP68-84 peptide actively induced EAE and potentiated EAE cellular transfer activity but was incapable of stimulating proliferation of either GPMBP-sensitized LNC or an encephalitogenic T cell line. When [P80]GP68-84 was used for sensitization, in vitro proliferation of LNC was stimulated, but only by MBP sequences containing a P80 substitution. Overall, these results indicate that at least two structurally distinct T cell determinants of GP68-84 regulate functionally diverse encephalitogenic and proliferative activities of EAE-associated T cells.     

T cell specificity for class II (I-A) and the encephalitogenic N-terminal epitope of the autoantigen myelin basic protein

The role of class II restriction in T cell recognition of an epitope of the autoantigen myelin basic protein (MBP) has been investigated. Encephalitogenic PL/J(H-2u) and (PL/J X SJL/J(H-2s))F1 ((PLSJ)F1) clones, isolated after immunization with intact MBP, recognize the N-terminal 11 amino acid residues of MBP in association with I-Au class II molecules. The synthetic peptide MBP 1-11 has been tested in vivo for induction of EAE. Clinical and histological EAE occurs in PL/J and (PLSJ)F1 mice but not SJL/J. The class II restriction of T cells primed with MBP 1-11 has been examined in primary cultures in vitro. Similar to encephalitogenic T cell clones, isolated after continuous selection in vitro, the population of MBP 1-11-specific proliferative PL/J and (PLSJ)F1 T cells, recognize this epitope in association with I-Au class II molecules. Not all MBP-specific T cell clones which are restricted to I-Au class II molecules cause autoimmune encephalomyelitis. The specificity of these non-encephalitogenic clones has been examined in this report. These clones also recognize MBP 1-11. Thus recognition of an encephalitogenic T cell epitope is not sufficient for induction of EAE.     

Gammadelta T cells enhance the expression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by promoting antigen presentation and IL-12 production

Using an adoptive transfer model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) induced by myelin basic protein (MBP)-reactive lymph node cells (LNC), we have shown that depletion of gammadelta T cells from LNC resulted in diminished severity of EAE in recipient mice, both clinically and histopathologically. The reduced potency of gammadelta T cell-depleted LNC to induce EAE correlated with decreased cell proliferation in response to MBP. The gammadelta T cell effect upon the threshold of MBP-induced LNC proliferation and EAE transfer was restored by reconstitution of gammadelta T cells derived from either MBP-immunized or naive mice, indicating that this effect was not Ag specific. The enhancing effect of gammadelta T cells on MBP-induced proliferation and EAE transfer required direct cell-to-cell contact with LNC. The gammadelta T cell effect upon the LNC response to MBP did not involve a change in expression of the costimulatory molecules CD28, CD40L, and CTLA-4 on TCRalphabeta(+) cells, and CD40, CD80, and CD86 on CD19(+) and CD11b(+) cells. However, depletion of gammadelta T cells resulted in significant reduction in IL-12 production by LNC. That gammadelta T cells enhanced the MBP response and severity of adoptive EAE by stimulating IL-12 production was supported by experiments showing that reconstitution of the gammadelta T cell population restored IL-12 production, and that gammadelta T cell depletion-induced effects were reversed by the addition of IL-12. These results suggest a role for gammadelta T cells in the early effector phase of the immune response in EAE.     

Antigen-specific inhibition of immune interferon production by suppressor cells of autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Previous work from this laboratory has revealed that spleen and/or lymph node cells from Lewis rats, that have recovered from an acute episode of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), suppress the development of EAE when injected into syngeneic recipients subsequently challenged with myelin basic protein (MBP) in CFA. In an effort to understand the mechanism of this suppression, we measured the production of immune IFN-gamma, which may be required for the induction of an immune response, by EAE effector T cells (which transfer disease) and EAE suppressor cells when cultured in vitro with MBP. We now report that EAE effector T cells produce IFN-gamma when cultured in vitro with MBP. In contrast, spleen cells from recovered rats (which manifest suppressor activity in vivo) do not produce IFN-gamma. Moreover, in cell mixing experiments, these suppressor spleen cells inhibited the production of IFN-gamma by EAE effector cells. This inhibition was not eliminated by the removal of macrophages nor by the inhibition of PG synthesis by indomethacin. Furthermore, the inhibition was shown to be Ag-specific and mediated by nylon-adherent, radiation-sensitive splenic T cells. The findings suggest that suppressor cells regulate EAE by inhibiting IFN-gamma production by effector cells. This inhibition may result in the down-regulation of IFN-gamma-induced expression of class II major histocompatibility Ag on cells of the central nervous system, thus reducing the presentation of tissue-specific Ag (i.e., MBP) to autoreactive lymphocytes.     

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis: clinical disease and enhanced cellular transfer in the absence of lymphocyte proliferative responses against syngeneic MBP

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) was induced in Lewis rats using several different immunization protocols, and draining lymph node cells from these animals were assayed for proliferation against heterologous, homologous, and syngeneic MBP, and syngeneic spinal cord. Proliferative responses were largely stimulated by nonsyngeneic antigenic determinants and correlated better with the antigen used to induce EAE than with signs of autoimmune disease. Lymph node cells from rats immunized with either guinea pig spinal cord or syngeneic MBP did not proliferate measurably when restimulated in vitro with syngeneic MBP, yet lymphoid cells from these animals were enhanced in their capacity to transfer EAE following in vitro stimulation with syngeneic MBP.     

Antigen processing of myelin basic protein is required prior to recognition by T cells inducing EAE.

The processing and presentation of whole myelin basic protein (MBP) and a 12 amino acid encephalitogenic peptide were investigated using MBP-immune and peptide-immune murine T cell lines. Myelin basic protein is the major component of central nervous system (CNS) white matter capable of inciting an autoimmune response which leads to the disease, experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), in a number of animal species. MBP-immune T cell lines caused a form of adoptively transferred EAE when injected into naive, syngeneic recipients. It has been found that both whole MBP and peptide required processing in order to induce proliferation of the T cell lines. The proliferative response was greatest when MBP was processed under conditions in which proteolysis was prevented. The demonstration that activation of encephalitogenic MBP immune T cells requires a processed form of MBP may have relevance to the human inflammatory CNS demyelinating condition, multiple sclerosis, for which EAE is the EAE is the prime animal model.     

Autoimmune effector cells. III. Role of adjuvant and accessory cells in the in vitro induction of autoimmune encephalomyelitis

The present investigation shows that autoreactive effector cells that transfer experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) can be activated from spleens and lymph nodes of Lewis rats given a single injection of 25 micrograms myelin basic protein (BP) in incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA), despite the fact that the cell donors do not develop EAE. Rather, these donor rats are unresponsive to EAE when given an encephalitogenic emulsion of BP in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). Lymphoid cells from rats given a single injection of BP-IFA were almost as effective as cells from BP-CFA-treated rats with respect to transferring EAE after in vitro activation with BP or concanavalin A (Con A). Irrespective of whether donors received BP in IFA or CFA, BP-cultured spleen and lymph node cells (SpC and LNC, respectively) transferred EAE, whereas Con A-cultured SpC but not LNC exhibited effector cell activity. Con A-cultured LNC were able to transfer EAE if the cultures were reconstituted with irradiated adherent phagocytic cells (which could be obtained from normal Lewis rat spleens) or with conditioned medium from these adherent SpC. These findings indicate that accessory cells are required for in vitro induction of this T cell-mediated autoimmune response.     

Characterization of the antigen specificity and TCR repertoire,and TCR-based DNA vaccine therapy in myelin basic protein-induced autoimmune encephalomyelitis in DA rats

Like Lewis rats, DA rats are an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE)-susceptible strain and develop severe EAE upon immunization with myelin basic protein (MBP). However, there are several differences between the two strains. In the present study we induced acute EAE in DA rats by immunization with MBP and MBP peptides and examined the Ag specificity and TCR repertoire of encephalitogenic T cells. It was found that although immunization with MBP and a peptide corresponding to its 62-75 sequence (MBP(62-75)) induced clinical EAE, the responses of lymph node T cells isolated from MBP-immunized rats to MBP(62-75) was marginal, indicating that this peptide contains major encephalitogenic, but not immunodominant, epitopes. The TCR analysis by CDR3 spectratyping of spinal cord T cells revealed that Vbeta10 and Vbeta15 spectratype expansion was always found in MBP(62-75)-immunized symptomatic rats. On the basis of these findings, we examined the encephalitogenicity of Vbeta10- and Vbeta15-positive T cells. First, the adoptive transfer experiments revealed that Vbeta10-positive T line cells derived from MBP(62-75)-immunized rats induced clinical EAE in recipients. Second, administration of DNA vaccines encoding Vbeta10 and Vbeta15, alone or in combination, ameliorated MBP(62-75)-induced EAE. Collectively, it was strongly suggested that Vbeta10- and Vbeta15-positive T cells are encephalitogenic. Analyses of the Ag specificity and T cell repertoire of pathogenic T cells performed in this study provide useful information for designing specific immunotherapies against autoimmune diseases.     

Indomethacin augments in vitro proliferative responses of Lewis rat lymphocytes to myelin basic protein. Implications for experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Indomethacin (IM), a specific inhibitor of prostaglandin (PG) synthesis, and PGE2 were studied in terms of their ability to modulate in vitro immune responses associated with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in Lewis rats. Lymphoid cells from either the spleens or the draining lymph nodes of myelin basic protein (MBP)-sensitized rats exhibited in vitro immune responses which were enhanced in the presence of IM. Specifically, IM enhanced (i) guinea pig MBP (GPMBP)- and rat MBP (RMBP)-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation, (ii) background proliferation, and (iii) interleukin 2 (IL-2)-stimulated proliferation. Conversely, PGE2 inhibited both GPMBP- and IL-2-stimulated proliferation of MBP-sensitized lymphocytes. Together, these results indicate that PGs secreted by cultured lymphoid cells can directly mitigate MBP- or IL-2-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation. Furthermore, the observation that IM and PGE2 modulate in vitro responses of MBP-specific lymphocytes may provide insight into how the in vivo administration of IM potentiates the severity of EAE (H. Ovadia and P.Y. Paterson, Clin. Exp. Immunol. 49, 386, 1982) and how PGs may be involved in the spontaneous remission of EAE in rats.     

Modulation of adoptive cell transfers in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis by antigen treatment of donors

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis has been adoptively transferred using lymph node cells from Strain 13 guinea pig donors sensitized with purified encephalitogenic myelin basic protein. Adoptive cell transfer was used to examine the immunocompetence of lymph node cells obtained from guinea pigs protected from disease development by treatment with MBP. Lymph node cells from guinea pigs unresponsive to EAE challenge do not adoptively transfer disease. Cells obtained from guinea pigs treated with MBP following encephalitogenic challenge are competent in adoptive transfer with respect to pathologic lesions, but not clinical disease. The clinical and pathologic responses of recipients of the histocompatible lymphocyte populations are similar to those seen in the treatment-matched donor controls, suggesting that under these circumstances lymphoid cells, rather than circulating soluble factors, are responsible for disease induction and suppression.     

Retinoic acid promotes the development of Th2-like human myelin basic protein-reactive T cells

To determine if retinoids might be beneficial in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), all-trans-retinoic acid (tRA) was tested for its effects on proliferation and cytokine expression in human autoreactive T cells. tRA decreased human lymphocyte proliferation in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, tRA induced IL-4 gene expression in myelin basic protein (MBP)-specific T cell lines which had previously expressed a Th1-like phenotype. MBP-specific T cell lines generated in the presence of tRA had a Th2-like phenotype. Retinoids have previously been shown to have a similar effect on encephalitogenic T cells in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE; an animal model for MS) and treatment of EAE with retinoids stabilizes the disease. Since several oral retinoids have been shown to be safe in humans, retinoids may be beneficial in the treatment of MS.     

Overcoming unresponsiveness in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) resistant mouse strains by adoptive transfer and antigenic challenge

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) and has been used as an animal model for study of the human demyelinating disease, multiple sclerosis (MS). EAE is characterized by pathologic infiltration of mononuclear cells into the CNS and by clinical manifestation of paralytic disease. Similar to MS, EAE is also under genetic control in that certain mouse strains are susceptible to disease induction while others are resistant. Typically, C57BL/6 (H-2(b)) mice immunized with myelin basic protein (MBP) fail to develop paralytic signs. This unresponsiveness is certainly not due to defects in antigen processing or antigen presentation of MBP, as an experimental protocol described here had been used to induce severe EAE in C57BL/6 mice as well as other reputed resistant mouse strains. In addition, encephalitogenic T cell clones from C57BL/6 and Balb/c mice reactive to MBP had been successfully isolated and propagated. The experimental protocol involves using a cellular adoptive transfer system in which MBP-primed (200 μg/mouse) C57BL/6 donor lymph node cells are isolated and cultured for five days with the antigen to expand the pool of MBP-specific T cells. At the end of the culture period, 50 million viable cells are transferred into naive syngeneic recipients through the tail vein. Recipient mice so treated normally do not develop EAE, thus reaffirming their resistant status, and they can remain normal indefinitely. Ten days post cell transfer, recipient mice are challenged with complete Freund adjuvant (CFA)-emulsified MBP in four sites in the flanks. Severe EAE starts to develop in these mice ten to fourteen days after challenge. Results showed that the induction of disease was antigenic specific as challenge with irrelevant antigens did not induce clinical signs of disease. Significantly, a titration of the antigen dose used to challenge the recipient mice showed that it could be as low as 5 μg/mouse. In addition, a kinetic study of the timing of antigenic challenge showed that challenge to induce disease was effective as early as 5 days post antigenic challenge and as long as over 445 days post antigenic challenge. These data strongly point toward the involvement of a "long-lived" T cell population in maintaining unresponsiveness. The involvement of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in this system is not defined.     

Genetic control of the development of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in rats. Separation of MHC and non-MHC gene effects

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE)-susceptible Lew and EAE-resistant Brown Norway (BN) rats and the corresponding MHC congenic strains were examined for their ability to develop clinical and histologic EAE. The ability of T cells from these animals to proliferate in vitro in response to whole guinea pig (GP) myelin basic protein (MBP), rat MBP, and to the major encephalitogenic peptide of GP MBP 66-88 (GP 68-88) was also assessed. We found that Lewis (Lew) was highly susceptible and showed good T cell responses to GP, MBP, rat MBP, and GP 68-88. Lew.1N (BN MHC on Lew background) and BN were not susceptible and T cells from these strains showed significant responses to GP MBP, but not to rat MBP or GP 68-88. Although BN.B1 (Lew MHC on BN background) was not susceptible to actively induced EAE, MBP-specific Lew T cells could transfer severe disease to BN.B1. BN.B1 T cells showed responses to GP-MBP, rat MBP, and GP 68-88 and, when transferred to naive BN.B1 or Lew, induced only mild clinical EAE in both strains. Increasing the number of T cells from BN.B1 had no effect on the severity of clinical symptoms in either recipient, suggesting some deficiency in the T cell repertoire that is necessary for induction of severe EAE. These results suggest that 1) the T cell response to rat MBP and GP68-88 (but not to sites other than 68-88 in GP MBP) is necessary for susceptibility to EAE; 2) the ability to respond to both rat MBP and GP 68-88 is determined by the MHC gene products on APC; and 3) given a permissive MHC, the T cell response that results in EAE is influenced by non-MHC genes.     

Autoaggressive T lymphocyte lines recognizing the encephalitogenic region of myelin basic protein: in vitro selection from unprimed rat T lymphocyte populations

Autoimmune T lymphocyte lines have been established from unprimed normal rat lymph node cell populations. In a first, negative-selection round, spontaneously proliferating (SMLR) T cells were eliminated by a pulse of BUdR followed by short wave light irradiation. In a second, positive-selection round, the SMLR-depleted populations were confronted with MBP presented by syngeneic spleen adherent cells. Reactive T cells were propagated until stable, permanent T lines were established. All lines were exclusively specific for the selecting antigen, MBP, and were restricted in recognition by determinants of the own MHC. All lines expressed the differentiation marker W3/25, but not OX8. Line vLe, which was derived from Lewis (LEW) rat lymphocytes, and which recognized the encephalitogenic sequence 48-88 of MBP, was extremely efficient in mediating EAE to normal untreated LEW rats. Doses of 1 X 10(6) and greater transferred lethal EAE, whereas transient although definite disease was caused by a minimum of 1 X 10(4) cells. Rats recovering from disease were resistant against subsequent active induction of EAE. In contrast, BN rat-derived line vBN was completely incapable of transferring EAE to syngeneic rats. This lack of encephalitogenicity was a property of the T line, because vLe cells transferred severe EAE to (LEW X BN)F1 hybrid rats, whereas none of hybrid rats injected with vBN cells showed any sign of disease. The data provide strong evidence in favor of the presence of potentially autoaggressive T clones in the normal immune system, and they might suggest that the actual proportion of these clones within the natural T cell repertoire is genetically determined.