NONINVOLVEMENT OF V-BETA-8(-CELLS IN MURINE THYROGLOBULIN-INDUCED EXPERIMENTAL AUTOIMMUNE-THYROIDITIS() T)

In experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) induced with mouse thyrog lobulin (MTg), T cell receptor (TCR) V beta gene usage in the pathogen esis of disease is unknown. We report here studies evaluating V beta 8 gene usage in EAT, as V beta 8(+) T cells are reportedly involved in some experimental autoimmune diseases. Spleen cells (SC) from MTg-immu nized CBA/J (H-2(k)) mice were activated in vitro for adoptive transfe r into syngeneic recipients. Elimination of V beta 8(+) T cells by tre ating recipients with V beta 8 monoclonal antibody (mAb) following tra nsfer of MTg-activated SC did not reduce disease severity, Conversely, MTg-primed SC were stimulated in vitro with V beta 8 mAb or staphyloc occal enterotoxin B, which activates V beta 8(+) T cells in CBA/J mice . Neither activated population transferred disease, in contrast to cel ls activated with MTg. Thus, in MTg-induced EAT, V beta 8(+) T cells d o not play a major role in pathogenesis. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.