MHC-restricted autoantigen-reactive T cell clones in multiple sclerosis |
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Authors: | C Rohowsky-Kochan R Troiano S D Cook |
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Affiliation: | University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark 07103. |
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Abstract: | Multiple sclerosis is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system with genetic, viral and autoimmune characteristics. Myelin basic protein (MBP) is a suspected target autoantigen since it induces experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, an animal model closely resembling multiple sclerosis. The disease is mediated by Class II restricted, MBP-reactive T cells possessing the T helper/inducer phenotype. In the present study, we have isolated MBP-reactive T cell clones from the peripheral blood of a chronic progressive multiple sclerosis patient. The clones displayed blastogenic memory responses when rechallenged with the autoantigen and irradiated autologous lymphocytes. MBP recognition by the autoantigen-reactive T lymphocytes was restricted by major histocompatibility complex Class II antigens. Both CD4+8- and CD4-8+ MBP-reactive T cell clones were obtained. |
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