title: Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in mice lacking CD4+ T cells.
abstract: Like most experimental autoimmune disease experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) has been shown to be mediated by CD4+ helper T cells. In vivo antibody blocking studies with anti-CD4 and adoptive transfer of activated CD4+ T cells indicate the importance of CD4+ cells in disease induction. Fourth backcross generation mutant CD4-/-PL/J mice were immunized with myelin basic protein. Despite the lack CD4+ T cells some of these mice developed EAE, albeit, at a considerably reduced frequency and with variable severity. Furthermore, antigen-specific T cell proliferation can be demonstrated, indicating some residual helper activity that is major histocompatibility complex class II restricted. This demonstrated that, although the CD4+ T cell is the prime effector cell in EAE, in mice developmentally lacking in CD4, the expanded double-negative T cells may subserve helper and effector functions.
authors.affiliation: Amgen Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rahemtulla
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Penninger
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Mak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000276:immunology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007376:Interleukin-2