T cell determinants of myelin basic protein include a unique encephalitogenic I-E-restricted epitope for Lewis rats.
The major encephalitogenic epitope for Lewis rats is the 72-89 sequence of guinea pig basic protein (GP-BP) or rat basic protein (Rt-BP). T cells responsive to this epitope are I-A restricted and preferentially express the V alpha 2:V beta 8 gene combination in their TCR. In this work, we describe for the first time the delayed appearance of T cells specific for additional discrete determinant of BP, the nonencephalitogenic 55-68 sequence of GP-BP restricted by I-A, and the encephalitogenic 87-99 sequence of Rt-BP restricted by I-E. The TCR V alpha 2:V beta 8 gene combination was expressed by both encephalitogenic GP-BP S72-89 and Rt-BP S87-99 T cell specificities but not by GP-BP 44-68-specific T cells. This is the first demonstration of I-E-restricted encephalitogenic T cells in Lewis rats and supports the conclusion that the I-E class II locus is involved in autoimmune diseases.
Offner
H
H
Veterans Administration Medical Center, Portland, Oregon 97201.
Hashim
G A
GA
Celnik
B
B
Galang
A
A
Li
X B
XB
Burns
F R
FR
Shen
N
N
Heber-Katz
E
E
Vandenbark
A A
AA
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002999:Clone Cells; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology*; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
D000939:Epitopes; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein