Isolation of myelin basic protein-specific T cells predominantly from the memory T-cell compartment in multiple sclerosis.
Myelin antigen-reactive T cells have been implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Myelin-reactive T cells can be isolated from control subjects as well as individuals who have MS. Experimental models of MS indicate that recently stimulated, myelin-reactive T cells have greater encephalitogenic potential than resting T cells. Activation induces changes in T-cell surface antigens that may distinguish previously stimulated, memory T cells from naive T cells. Therefore, we examined 108 myelin basic protein (MBP)-reactive T-cell lines from 7 MS and 8 control subjects to determine whether MBP-reactive T cells originated in the memory T-cell subset or in the naive subset. Isotypes of CD45 were used that designate memory or naive T cells. In subjects having MS, 84% of the MBP-reactive T cells resided in the memory T-cell subset. However, in control subjects, only 13% of MBP-specific T cells originated from the memory T-cell subset. This result suggests that a substantial proportion of MBP-reactive T cells from some individuals with MS have been previously activated in vivo. This difference provides additional support for the hypothesis that myelin antigen-specific T cells are involved in the pathogenesis of MS.
Burns
J
J
Department of Neurology, VA Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT 84148, USA.
Bartholomew
B
B
Lobo
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002451:Cell Compartmentation / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000276:immunology; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology*; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*
D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens