STRAIN-RELATED DIFFERENCES IN THE ABILITY OF T-LYMPHOCYTES TO RECOGNIZE PROTEINS ENCODED BY THE GOLLI-MYELIN BASIC-PROTEIN GENE

Protein products of the golli-MBP gene complex, expressed in the nervo us and lymphoid systems, contain sequences in common with sequences in 'classic' MBP, expressed exclusively in the nervous system. In this r eport, it was determined whether T cell lines (TCLs) specific for ence phalitogenic epitopes of 'classic' MBP were able to recognize sequence s within golli-MBP. TCLs derived from SJL mice specific for the immuno dominant 83-102 sequence and the subdominant 19-27 sequence of 'classi c' MBP recognized golli-MBP J37 and BG21, respectively. In contrast, T CLs derived from PL and B10.PL mice specific for the immunodominant 1- 9 sequence of 'classic' MBP did not recognize this sequence within eit her 537 or BG21. These strain-related differences in the ability of go lli-MBP proteins to stimulate 'classic' MBP-specific TCLs are discusse d with respect to a possible influence on whether the course of EAE is relapsing (SJL) or monophasic (PL and B10.PL).