Genetic control of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis at the level of cytotoxic lymphocytes in guinea pigs

Abstract

To analyze immunologic mechanisms involved in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a system for studying the cytotoxic reaction of guinea pig lymphocytes against syngeneic macrophages pulsed with myelin basic protein (BP) was developed. It was found that both EAE‐susceptible strain 13 and EAE‐resistant strain 2 animals developed cytotoxicity directed against whole BP. However, only strain 13 guinea pigs developed such cells in response to immunization with the encephalitogenic nonapeptide determinant of BP. Strain 2 macrophages appeared able to present the nonapeptide determinant to strain 13 lymphocytes. Anti‐BP cytotoxic lymphocytes were found to be recruited by anti‐BP initiator lymphocytes.