Autoreactivity to myelin antigens: myelin/oligodendrocyte glycoprotein is a prevalent autoantigen.
Autoreactive T cells specific for myelin antigens are thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). We compared T cell proliferative responses in peripheral blood following challenge in vitro with myelin/oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (recombinant protein, rMOG), myelin basic protein (MBP) and proteolipid apoprotein (PLP) in 50 patients with MS and 40 healthy controls. T cell reactivity against rMOG (defined by a specific stimulation index of 2.5 or greater) was present in 13 (26%) MS patients and 12 (30%) healthy controls and was MHC-restricted, as anti-MHC class II antibodies abolished all proliferative responses. By contrast, reactivity against PLP was present in only one (2%) MS patient and six (15%) controls, and no reactivity against MBP was found in any subject. Thus, by the criteria of the present study, an increased reactivity of circulating T cells to MOG is present to a similar degree in healthy individuals and in patients with MS. This finding raises the possibility that additional factors contribute to the pathogenicity of these autoreactive T cell populations in demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system.
Diaz-Villoslada
P
P
Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0435, USA.
Shih
A
A
Shao
L
L
Genain
C P
CP
Hauser
S L
SL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000276:immunology; D009185:Myelin Proteins; D018991:Myelin Proteolipid Protein / Q000276:immunology; D018992:Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein / Q000276:immunology*; D063308:Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein; D051381:Rats; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D012016:Reference Values; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D008222:Lymphokines; C571326:MOG protein, human; C571328:Mog protein, rat; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D009185:Myelin Proteins; D018991:Myelin Proteolipid Protein; D018992:Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein; D063308:Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein; D011994:Recombinant Proteins