Cerebrospinal fluid CD4+ T cells from a multiple sclerosis patient cross-recognize Epstein-Barr virus and myelin basic protein.
Epstein-Barr virus-specific CD4+ T cells could be involved in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis, provided they can gain entry to the intrathecal compartment. The authors have previously demonstrated that cerebrospinal fluid T cells from multiple sclerosis patients recognize autologous Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B cells. They now report that CD4+ T cells specific for the Epstein-Barr virus DNA polymerase peptide EBV 627-641 were present in the cerebrospinal fluid from one of two multiple sclerosis patients, and that a high proportion of these CD4+ T cells cross-recognized an immunodominant myelin basic protein peptide, MBP 85-99. In the observed patient, the proportion of EBV 627-641-specific CD4+ T cells seemed to exceed 1/10,000 in cerebrospinal fluid, compared to approximately 1/100,000 in blood. These findings prove that Epstein-Barr-virus specific CD4+ T cells can gain access to the intrathecal compartment, and suggest that Epstein-Barr virus-specific CD4+ T cells could target myelin basic protein in the central nervous system.
Holmøy
Trygve
T
Institute of Immunology, Rikshospitalet University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. trygveho@labmed.uio.no
Kvale
Espen Østhagen
EØ
Vartdal
Frode
F
D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000276:immunology*
D004676:Myelin Basic Protein