title: Identification of a major T-cell epitope within VP3 amino acid residues 24 to 37 of Theiler's virus in demyelination-susceptible SJL/J mice.
abstract: Intracerebral inoculation of susceptible strains of mice with Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) results in a chronic, immunologically mediated demyelinating disease that shares many features with human multiple sclerosis. CD4+ T lymphocytes play a critical role in the pathogenesis of virus-induced demyelinating disease. We have identified a region within amino acid residues 24 to 37 of the VP3 capsid protein of TMEV (VP3(24-37)) that is recognized by T lymphocytes from the demyelination-susceptible SJL/J strain of mice. The T-cell response to VP3(24-37) represents a predominant Th-cell response against the virus from either TMEV-immunized or TMEV-infected SJL/J mice, and viral epitopes VP1(233-250), VP2(74-86), and VP3(24-37) account for most of the Th-cell response to TMEV.
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002213:Capsid / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000473:pathology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D011051:Poliomyelitis / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D017945:Theilovirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D036022:Capsid Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D000939:Epitopes; D010446:Peptide Fragments