Treatment of chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis with the intravenous administration of splenocytes coupled to encephalitogenic peptide 91–103 of myelin basic protein

Abstract

Chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (CR-EAE) is an autoimmune demyelinating disease of the central nervous system and serves as an experimental model of human multiple sclerosis. Amino acid residues p91–103 of myelin basic protein are encephalitogenic in SJL mice and transfer of T cell lines that recognize this epitope results in CR-EAE. We show here that coculture of T cells in the presence of p91–103 that has been chemically cross-linked to the antigen presenting cells renders the T cell lines tolerant to the antigen. Injection of p91–103 coupled splenocytes into animals that had received encephalitogenic p91–103 reactive T cells significantly reduced the incidence and severity of EAE. Furthermore, treatment of mice with a single injection of antigen coupled splenocytes after they had recovered from their initial paralytic attack prevented the development of subsequent clinical relapses in all animals. These studies indicate than this effect is long lasting and can be successfully accomplished in an established autoimmune disease. Hence this form of immunotherapy may be considered as a therapeutic modality in the treatment of autoimmune diseases when the autoantigens are known.