A myelin basic protein-specific T lymphocyte line that mediates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

A. A. Vandenbark, T. Gill, H. Offner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

108 Scopus citations

Abstract

A T lymphocyte line, BP-1, expressing the T helper phenotype was selected from Lewis rats immunized with guinea pig myelin basic protein (GP-BP) in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). The BP-1 line responded specifically to GP-BP but not to PPD after the first round of selection, and responded to rat but not human or bovine BP. When injected i.p. into histocompatible Lewis or F1 (Lewis x P2) recipients, the BP-1 line induced both clinical signs of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions in ears challenged intradermally with GP-BP but not PPD. The severity of clinical signs and the degree of ear swelling were dependent on the dose of BP-1 cells injected. Both activities were detectable with as few as 0.1 x 106 BP-1 line cells and required prior activation of the line cells with GP-BP presented by accessory cells. Lewis rats that had recovered from EAE induced by injection of GP-BP in CFA were more susceptible than naive rats to BP-1 line-mediated disease, requiring as few as 0.03 x 106 line cells. Clinical EAE and DTH could be serially transferred into F1 (Lewis x P2) recipients with BP-1 cells and back to nonirradiated Lewis parents with activated splenocytes, suggesting that BP-1 cells persist in recipient rats. These results demonstrate the potent biologic activities of an autoreactive BP-specific T lymphocyte line. This line possesses properties similar to BP lines described previously as well as to culture-conditioned splenic T effector cells; thus, the data presented here bridge the gap between these two approaches for studying T effector lymphocyte functions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)223-228
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Immunology
Volume135
Issue number1
StatePublished - 1985
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

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