Characterization of the specific meningeal T cell response to intracerebral inoculation of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus

The presence of a resident T lymphocyte population in the meninges of normal SJL/J mice has been detected by the use of the T cell-specific mitogen concanavalin A. Optimal conditions for [3H]thymidine incorporation were studied. An antigen-specific meningeal T cell proliferative response in SJL/J mice, primed by intracerebral inoculation of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus, was also detected. This response indicated that leptomeningeal mononuclear cell infiltrations are involved in the immune response that triggers the demyelinating disease.