title: A functional basis for the association of HLA class II genes and susceptibility to multiple sclerosis: cellular immune responses to myelin basic protein in a multiplex family.
abstract: This study has examined the cellular response to myelin basic protein (MBP) in a multiplex family with multiple sclerosis (MS). A total of 81 MBP-specific T cell lines (TCLs) were derived from three affected siblings and four healthy siblings. No difference was observed in estimated precursor frequencies of MBP-specific TCLs or peptide specificity of TCLs when comparing affected and unaffected siblings. MBP-specific TCLs from affected siblings, however, were restricted to the DRw15/DQw6 allele more frequently than those from unaffected siblings (P < 0.02). These data suggest that restriction of autoantigen-specific T cells may be the functional basis for disease susceptibility related to HLA class II inheritance.
authors.affiliation: Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Voskuhl
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: McFarland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein