title: T cell specificity for class II (I-A) and the encephalitogenic N-terminal epitope of the autoantigen myelin basic protein.
abstract: The role of class II restriction in T cell recognition of an epitope of the autoantigen myelin basic protein (MBP) has been investigated. Encephalitogenic PL/J(H-2u) and (PL/J X SJL/J(H-2s))F1 ((PLSJ)F1) clones, isolated after immunization with intact MBP, recognize the N-terminal 11 amino acid residues of MBP in association with I-Au class II molecules. The synthetic peptide MBP 1-11 has been tested in vivo for induction of EAE. Clinical and histological EAE occurs in PL/J and (PLSJ)F1 mice but not SJL/J. The class II restriction of T cells primed with MBP 1-11 has been examined in primary cultures in vitro. Similar to encephalitogenic T cell clones, isolated after continuous selection in vitro, the population of MBP 1-11-specific proliferative PL/J and (PLSJ)F1 T cells, recognize this epitope in association with I-Au class II molecules. Not all MBP-specific T cell clones which are restricted to I-Au class II molecules cause autoimmune encephalomyelitis. The specificity of these non-encephalitogenic clones has been examined in this report. These clones also recognize MBP 1-11. Thus recognition of an encephalitogenic T cell epitope is not sufficient for induction of EAE.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000276:immunology; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000276:immunology*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001324:Autoantigens; D000939:Epitopes; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D010446:Peptide Fragments