ADOPTIVE TRANSFER OF MURINE EXPERIMENTAL AUTOIMMUNE ENCEPHALOMYELITISIN SJL THY-1 CONGENIC MOUSE STRAINS

For the purpose of tracking the migration of donor T cells in chronic relapsing EAE (CREAE), a Thy-1 congenic mouse strain on the SJL geneti c background was generated. T cells from these SJL.Thy-1a mice (Thy-1. 1 +) could be distinguished from those of SJL (Thy-1.2+) by staining w ith specific anti-Thy-I antibodies. In adoptive EAE, SJL.Thy-1a mice e xhibited similar chronic remitting and relapsing cycles as in SJL mice . Reciprocal transfer of adoptive EAE had also been successfully carri ed out between the two Thy-1 disparate strains. The lack of alloreacti vity against the Thy-1 antigen was further demonstrated by the absence of reactivity in in vitro mixed lymphocyte cultures and in vivo skin graft rejection between the two strains. The establishment of the SJL. Thy-1a mouse strain should prove to be a valuable tool for further dis secting the complex process of relapsing EAE.