Activation of effector cells of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in Lewis rats: comparison of T-cell lines with primary cultured lymph node cells

We studied the mechanism of activation of effector cells in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) by using T-cell lines (EAE/TL) reactive against guinea pig myelin basic protein generated from in vivo primed lymph node cells (LNC) of Lewis rats. EAE-effector cells are activated in the presence of a specific antigen and antigen-presenting cells (APC) with a compatible Ia antigen. The antigen presentation occurs during the first 18 h. EAE-effector cells cannot be activated by allogeneic stimulator cells, but a nonspecific T-cell mitogen, concanavalin A, can activate the effector cells in the presence of syngeneic as well as allogeneic APC.