CORRELATION BETWEEN SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DEMYELINATION AND INTERFERON-GAMMA INDUCTION OF MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX CLASS-II ANTIGENS ONMURINE CEREBROVASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS

The induction of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) Class II expre ssion was studied on cerebrovascular endothelial cells (CVE) obtained from strains of mice that are resistant (BALB/c) and susceptible (SJL and CBA) to Theiler's virus-induced demyelination (TVID). Following 24 h treatment with interferon (IFN)-gamma, MHC Class II was induced on CVE derived from susceptible but not resistant strains of mice. Howeve r, IFN-gamma induced the expression of MHC Class II on late passages o f BALB/c CVE. These results demonstrate a correlation between suscepti bility to demyelination and the ability of IFN-gamma to induce the exp ression of MHC Class II on CVE. In susceptible strains of mice, the pr esence of activated, IFN-gamma-secreting T cells, in the vicinity of C VE would increase the antigen-presenting capabilities of CVE and resul t in increased T cell traffic into the central nervous system.