title: Autoreactive CD8+ T-cell responses to human myelin protein-derived peptides.
abstract: Identification of the targets of autoreactive T cells is important for understanding the pathogenesis of many autoimmune diseases. In multiple sclerosis, myelin proteins are thought to be the targets of autoreactive T-cell responses. To date only major histocompatibility complex class II-restricted CD4+ T-cell responses to myelin proteins have been investigated. In the present study, the ability of self peptides derived from human myelin proteins to induce autoreactive CD8+ T-cell responses has been assessed. Peptide sequences from human myelin basic protein (MBP), proteolipid protein (PLP), myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG), and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein have been identified that bind to and form stable complexes with HLA-A2. MBP 110-118, PLP 80-88, MAG 287-295, MAG 509-517, and MAG 556-564 were all able to induce peptide-specific HLA-A2-restricted CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses in vitro in HLA-A2+ individuals. CTLs specific for MBP 110-118 and MAG 556-564 could recognize endogenously processed antigens presented by HLA-A2. CTL clones reactive to MBP 110-118 and MAG 556-564 produced tumor necrosis factor alpha and a subset of these clones also produced interferon gamma. These results demonstrate that (i) self peptides derived from human myelin proteins can induce autoreactive CD8+ CTLs and (ii) these CD8+ T cells produce cytokines thought to be important in mediating demyelinating disease. These studies provide an experimental approach for the assessment of CD8+ T-cell responses in such autoimmune diseases.
authors.affiliation: Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuchida
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: McFarland
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Coligan
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Biddison
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D018604:Epitope Mapping; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology*; D009185:Myelin Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen; D009185:Myelin Proteins; D010455:Peptides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma