Antigen-Binding Lymphocytes in Normal Man and Guinea Pig to Human Encephalitogenic Protein

Abstract

Lymph nodes and blood from human subjects without neurologic disease, as well as lymph nodes from normal guinea pigs, contain lymphocytes capable of binding radiolabeled encephalitogenic basic protein of human myelin. In man, the number of such cells is comparable to that of cells binding a foreign antigen, radioiodinated flagellin of Salmonella adelaide. These observations lend support to the opinion that “forbidden clones” of lymphocytes, recognizing autoantigens, do exist in apparently normal animals.