Myelin basic protein reactive Th2 T cells are found in acute disseminated encephalomyelitis.
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), a postinfectious illness of the central nervous system (CNS), is thought to be an autoimmune disease. Here, we characterized the cytokines secreted by myelin-reactive T cells generated from patients with ADEM. The frequency of MBP-reactive T cell lines was ten-fold higher in patients with ADEM compared to patients with encephalitis and normal subjects. Whereas there was no significant IFN-gamma secretion, the predominant cytokine secreted by MBP-reactive T cell lines was IL-4 in patients with ADEM. In contrast, IL-4 secretion was only rarely detected in the controls. The presence of high frequencies of MBP-reactive IL-4 secreting T cells in subjects with ADEM during their recovery phase may be similar to myelin reactive IL-4 secreting T cells observed during the spontaneous recovery of animals with EAE.
Pohl-Koppe
A
A
Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Womens's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115-5817, USA.
Burchett
S K
SK
Thiele
E A
EA
Hafler
D A
DA
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D004673:Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000276:immunology; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D007376:Interleukin-2; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma