Lessons from studies of antigen-specific T cell responses in Multiple Sclerosis.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is considered a T cell-mediated autoimmune disease of central nervous system myelin. Based on elegant experiments in an animal model of MS, experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), a number of myelin proteins and peptides derived from these can induce inflammatory demyelinating lesions. Recent studies with transgenic mice expressing human HLA-DR molecules and a myelin basic protein (MBP)-specific T cell receptor as well as data from a phase II clinical trial with an altered peptide ligand based on MBP peptide (83-99) provide convincing evidence that the pathogenetic concepts which largely stem from the above EAE studies are valid in MS, too.
Martin
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Neuroimmunology Branch, NINDS, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1400, USA. martinr@ninds.nih.gov
Bielekova
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B
Gran
B
B
McFarland
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HF
D000818:Animals; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000276:immunology; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000276:immunology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D001324:Autoantigens; D008024:Ligands; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell