Myelin basic protein-specific T lymphocyte lines from MS patients and healthy individuals.
We derived a total of 146 T lymphocyte lines specific for human myelin basic protein (MBP) from the peripheral blood of 20 MS patients and from a control group of 12 healthy donors, and determined the reactivities of T cell lines by [3H]thymidine incorporation on exposure to MBP and MBP peptides 1-44, 45-89, and 90-170. We defined HLA restriction of the T lines by using monoclonal antibodies against monomorphic determinants on human HLA-DR, HLA-DQ, and HLA-DP molecules. MBP-specific T cell lines could be isolated with a comparable efficiency from MS patients and healthy individuals. In both groups, MBP-specific T lymphocytes recognized at least 4 different epitopes in the MBP molecule, and specificities showed comparable patterns for different MBP peptides. MBP-specific T cell lines derived from MS patients and controls were restricted by DR products of the human major histocompatibility class II locus. Notable phenotypic differences of T cell lines existed between the 2 groups. Lines isolated from MS patients expressed predominantly the CD3+ CD4+ CD8- phenotype, while some control lines were composed of up to 87% CD3+CD4+CD8+ T lymphocytes. These findings illustrate the presence of MBP-specific T cells in MS patients and controls that are similarly sensitized to MBP and restricted by HLA-DR products.
Clinical Research Unit for Multiple Sclerosis, Max-Planck-Society, Würzburg, West Germany.
M
M
Pette
K
K
Fujita
B
B
Kitze
J N
JN
Whitaker
E
E
Albert
L
L
Kappos
H
H
Wekerle
D000328:Adult; D002460:Cell Line; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology*; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000276:immunology*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000939:Epitopes; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D010446:Peptide Fragments