title: T cell vaccination in multiple sclerosis: a preliminary report.
abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a presumed autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. Inoculation of attenuated T cell clones recognizing immunodominant regions of myelin autoantigens can protect animals from the induction of experimental autoimmune diseases. In this phase one trial, we investigated whether inoculations with attenuated T cell clones are feasible in humans for eventual trials with autoreactive clones and whether there are any associated immunologic effects. A total of seven inoculations with attenuated, autologous T cell clones isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid in four subjects with progressive MS was performed. No untoward side effects were observed. Immunologic studies suggested that the inoculation of autologous activated T cell clones followed by partial, short-term, immunosuppression as evidenced by a decrease of subsequent responses to stimulation via the CD2 pathway and increases in the autologous mixed lymphocyte response. We conclude that the use of attenuated autoreactive T cell clones appears feasible for further clinical trials in humans with autoimmune diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Hafler
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Benjamin
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Weiner
mesh_terms: D002999:Clone Cells / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000628:therapy*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination