Interactions between CD4+ T-cells and rat Schwann cells in vitro: 2. Cytotoxic effects of P2-specific CD4+ T-cell lines on Lewis rat Schwann cells

The cytotoxic effects of CD4+ P₂-specific T-cell lines on Schwann cells were examined in vitro with ⁵¹Cr-release cytotoxicity assays. Only those P₂-specific T-cell lines capable of inducing EAN when injected back into adult Lewis rats were cytotoxic to the Schwann cells. The addition of exogenous P₂ protein was not necessary for the cytotoxic effect. The monoclonal antibody (mAb) OX6 directed against Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules blocked cytotoxicity, indicating an essential role for MHC class II molecules in this interaction between CD4+ T-cell lines and Schwann cells.