title: Presence of T cells with activated and memory phenotypes in inflammatory spinal cord lesions.
abstract: The phenotypic and functional characteristics of activated T cells and recruited unactivated T cells at an inflammatory site were examined using a V beta 4+ myelin basic protein-specific T cell clone in a passively transferred model of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. A high percentage of the T cells isolated from the central nervous system (CNS) were V beta 4+. This population exhibited the characteristics of activated T cells based on the proportion of cells in the blast state, their ability to proliferate in response to IL-2 or CNS Ag, and their expression of activation/memory cell markers. Activated V beta 4+ T cells were also observed in the periphery. Large numbers of V beta 4- T cells, which are entirely host-recruited, were also found in the CNS, where they demonstrated the properties of memory cells. There were differences in adhesion molecule expression between CNS V beta 4+ T cells and peripheral V beta 4+ T cells, although both populations were in activated state. V beta 4+ T cells at the site of Ag expression (the spinal cord) demonstrated higher levels of LFA-1 and CD44, but lower levels of VLA-4 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1, than did V beta 4+ T cells in the spleen. In contrast, the levels of all of these adhesion molecules on recruited V beta 4- T cells were higher in the CNS than in the periphery. This experimental model allows the detailed characterization of different T cell populations isolated from the same inflammatory site.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Barten
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Ruddle
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000276:immunology*; D039041:Integrin alpha4beta1; D016023:Integrins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000276:immunology; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016201:Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D039041:Integrin alpha4beta1; D016023:Integrins; D007376:Interleukin-2; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D016201:Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1