title: Homing of T cells to the central nervous system throughout the course of relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in Thy-1 congenic mice.
abstract: Chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) was induced in Thy-1.1 congenic SJL/J mice by the adoptive transfer of myelin basic protein (MBP)-responsive lymph node cells from Thy-1.2 SJL/J mice. The Thy-1 congenic mouse strain was constructed on the SJL (Thy-1.2) background by the initial cross with the AKR (Thy-1.1) strain and does not reject Thy-1.2+ T cells. Quantitative immunocytochemical analysis of the central nervous system (CNS) of Thy-1.1 recipients showed preferential trafficking of Thy-1.2+ T cells to the meninges and white matter, beginning prior to onset of clinical signs. At 7 days post-transfer (dpt), Thy-1.2+ donor cells constituted 2.5% of the infiltrating cells and reached peak values (ca. 10%) during the first attack. At later stages (up to ten relapses), Thy-1.2+ T cells constituted 2-5% of the infiltrate. In control mice injected with irrelevant antigen-stimulated Thy-1.2+ T cells, only the occasional Thy-1.2+ T cell could be demonstrated up to 14 dpt. This is the first study showing unequivocally the presence of MBP-stimulated, adoptively transferred T cells within the CNS of recipients throughout the course of EAE, particularly during later relapsing stages. These results indicate that the persistent presence of antigen-specific T cells may be required for the recruitment of non-CNS antigen-responsive immune cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, (Neuropathology), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Skundric
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Tse
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Raine
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology; D002465:Cell Movement; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens