Jm. Vannoort et al., MINOR MYELIN PROTEINS CAN BE MAJOR TARGETS FOR PERIPHERAL-BLOOD T-CELLS FROM BOTH MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS PATIENTS AND HEALTHY-SUBJECTS, Journal of neuroimmunology, 46(1-2), 1993, pp. 67-72
T cell recognition of myelin is likely to play a role in the pathogene
sis of multiple sclerosis. Predominant protein components of myelin, m
yelin basic protein (MBP) and proteolipid protein (PLP), have been con
sidered as possibly relevant autoantigens, especially since both prote
ins are encephalitogenic in various laboratory animals. It has remaine
d unclear, however, to what extent the numerous minor proteins contain
ed in myelin may serve as targets for human T cell responses to myelin
. In this study, the abilities of several minor myelin proteins to tri
gger proliferative responses of human peripheral blood T cells were co
mpared to that of MBP. By using a water soluble collection of myelin p
roteins as an antigen, including MBP as the major component, short-ter
m T cell lines were generated. Proliferative responses were determined
against the various proteins after their fractionation by HPLC. Short
-term T cell lines from both multiple sclerosis patients and healthy c
ontrol subjects displayed significant responses to several minor myeli
n proteins but failed to respond to MBP. Only the use of purified MBP
as trigger antigen allowed the selective expansion of MBP-specific T c
ell lines. These findings indicate that minor myelin proteins may act
as relevant targets for autoreactive human T cells.