Induction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in rats and immune response to myelin basic protein in lipid-bound form.
Encephalitogenic activity of myelin basic protein (MBP) isolated in a form retaining binding to all myelin lipids was tested in Lewis rats. Immunization with this new stable lipid-bound and native-like preparation (LB-MBP), induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) as intensively as the classical lipid free MBP (LF-MBP). During the course of the disease, high affinity specific response to LB-MBP and high frequency of LB-MBP specific precursors was observed in peripheral lymphoid organs, indicating that the disease occurred in presence of anti LB-MBP specific T-cell responsivity. Short term lines, generated from lymphocytes collected at the onset of the disease from LB-MBP immunized rats, showed a strong dose-dependent response to LB-MBP, but not to LF-MBP. The present data indicate that in rat, LB-MBP maintains encephalitogenic activity and induces expansion of a specific T-cell population. These data suggest also that LB-MBP is a new autoantigen that may be relevant in human diseases.
Massacesi
L
L
Department of Neurology, University of Florence, Firenze, Italy.
Vergelli
M
M
Zehetbauer
B
B
Liuzzi
G M
GM
Olivotto
J
J
Ballerini
C
C
Uccelli
A
A
Mancardi
L
L
Riccio
P
P
Amaducci
L
L
D000818:Animals; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D008055:Lipids; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein