title: Restimulation of resting autoreactive T cells by Schwann cells in vitro.
abstract: This study demonstrates that rat Schwann cells can reactivate resting experimental allergic neuritis generating P(2) and P(2) peptide specific CD4(+) T cell lines. T cell proliferation was significantly greater to P(2) than to P(2) peptide (SP-26) or ovalbumin (OA). Four-level analysis of variance showed that T cell proliferation with endogenous or exogenous P(2) was not significantly different for Schwann cells plus cytokine IFN-gamma (P = 0.5071) unlike P(2) peptide or OA specific T cells (P = 0.0056 and 0.0003, respectively). Untreated Schwann cells were more effective inducers than irradiated or fixed Schwann cells. As stimulated CD4(+) P(2) T cells produce IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha, this could exacerbate blood nerve barrier breakdown that has been increasingly implicated in inflammatory demyelinating neuropathies (IDNs). This would permit entry of antibodies and complement, thereby contributing to the demyelination process. Schwann cell induced reactivation of CD4(+) T cells may therefore play a role in IDNs.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Carslaw (F07), University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lilje
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Armati
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D001324:Autoantigens; D015551:Autoimmunity; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002460:Cell Line; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D018996:Myelin P2 Protein / Q000276:immunology; D009444:Neuritis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001324:Autoantigens; D018996:Myelin P2 Protein; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C076290:myelin P2 peptide SP26; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D010047:Ovalbumin