Cross-reactivity of Borrelia burgdorferi and myelin basic protein-specificT cells is not observed in borrelial encephalomyelitis

Borrelial encephalomyelitis, a rare manifestation of Lyme borreliosis, may present as a multiple sclerosis (MS)-like disease. It is postulated that in MS, inflammation of the white matter is caused by a T-cell response direct ed to myelin antigens. Here, we examined whether a T-cell autoimmune respon se may play a pathogenetic role in Borrelia-associated white matter disease mediated by cross-reactivity between myelin basic protein (MBP) and B. bur gdorferi. We generated a total of 1760 short-term T-cell lines against B. b urgdorferi or MBP from two patients with Borrelial encephalomyelitis and co mpared these with three patients with late Lyme disease, one patient with t ransverse myelitis, eight patients with MS, and four healthy controls. Whil e a few T-cell Lines recognized both B. burgdorferi and MBP, T-cell clones from these Lines responded only to the antigen of the original stimulation. Thus, our data do not provide evidence for cross-reactivity between MBP an d B. burgdorferi. (C) 1999 Academic Press.