Suppression of experimentally induced autoimmune encephalomyelitis by cytolytic T–T cell interactions

D Sun, Y Qin, J Chluba, JT Epplen, H Wekerle - Nature, 1988 - nature.com
D Sun, Y Qin, J Chluba, JT Epplen, H Wekerle
Nature, 1988nature.com
Down-regulatory phenomena have been described in several experimental models of tissue-
specific, T-cell-mediated autoimmunity. For example, resistance to active induction of
experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) can be induced by pretreating animals
with non-pathogenic inocula of autoantigen1 or effector cells2, 3. Moreover, animals that
have recovered from one EAE episode are resistant to subsequent induction of EAE4–6. In
some models, resistance to EAE has been transferred with immune cells to naive recipients7 …
Abstract
Down-regulatory phenomena have been described in several experimental models of tissue-specific, T-cell-mediated autoimmunity. For example, resistance to active induction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) can be induced by pretreating animals with non-pathogenic inocula of autoantigen1 or effector cells2,3. Moreover, animals that have recovered from one EAE episode are resistant to subsequent induction of EAE4–6. In some models, resistance to EAE has been transferred with immune cells to naive recipients7–12. These experiments, which were based on transfers of unseparated immune cell populations, are difficult to intepret. Immune suppression circuits are known to be complex and involve various distinct cellular subsets13. To further complicate the issue, resistance to EAE can be transferred not only by suppressor cells, but also by encephalitogenic effector cells injected in 'subclinical' doses2,12. We describe now the isolation of homogenous T lymphocyte lines from the spleens of Lewis rats that had recovered from T-cell-mediated EAE (tEAE) caused by the MBP-specific T cell line SI. These spleen-derived T line cells express the CDS phenotype and specifically respond to determinants on the inducing SI line, but not to the autoantigen MBP. Furthermore, the anti-Si cells selectively lyse the encephalitogenic SI T line in vitro and efficiently neutralize their encephalitogenic capacity in vivo.
nature.com