| First Author | Yauch RL | Year | 1994 |
| Journal | J Immunol | Volume | 153 |
| Issue | 10 | Pages | 4508-19 |
| PubMed ID | 7525707 | Mgi Jnum | J:21864 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:69765 | Doi | 10.4049/jimmunol.153.10.4508 |
| Citation | Yauch RL, et al. (1994) A predominant viral epitope recognized by T cells from the periphery and demyelinating lesions of SJL/J mice infected with Theiler's virus is located within VP1(233-244). J Immunol 153(10):4508-19 |
| abstractText | The intracerebral inoculation of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) into susceptible strains of mice results in a chronic, immune-mediated demyelinating disease that shares many features with human multiple sclerosis. As with human MS, T lymphocytes seem to be critically important for the pathogenesis of this virally induced, demyelinating disease. Therefore, determining the fine specificity of the T cell response may be essential for elucidating the mechanism(s) involved in demyelination. By using fusion proteins and synthetic peptides, we have initially identified a region within the amino acid residues 233 to 250 of the VP1 capsid protein of Theiler's virus that is recognized by T cells from either TMEV-immunized or TMEV-infected, demyelination-susceptible SJL/J mice. A T lymphocyte precursor frequency analysis indicates that a major TMEV-reactive T cell population in the periphery of virus-infected mice recognizes this VP1 region. The fine epitope specificity has been further determined to be within VP1(233-244) using additional synthetic peptides. VP1(233-244)-specific T cells seem to represent a significant population of TMEV-reactive T lymphocytes within the demyelinating lesions, because such T cells have been cloned from the spinal cords of infected mice. Interestingly, all TMEV-specific T cell clones derived from the demyelinating lesions, regardless of epitope specificity, produce IFN-gamma on stimulation and thus may play a critical role in the recruitment and activation of inflammatory cells leading to demyelination. Taken together, these data suggest that a T cell response against VP1(233-244) is involved in the pathogenesis of TMEV-induced demyelinating disease. |
