The role of protective CD8+T cells in resistance of BALB/c mice to Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus-induced demyelinating disease: regulatoryvs. lytic

Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV)-induced demyelinating disea se (TMEV-IDD) is an excellent model for human multiple sclerosis. Within th e BALB/c strain, BALB/cAnNCr mice are susceptible while BALB/cByJ mice are resistant. BALB/cByJ mice become susceptible when irradiated. Adoptive tran sfer of CD8(+) splenic T cells from resistant BALE/cByJ donors protect irra diated BALB/cByJ, as well as BALB/cAnNCr recipients, from development of TM EV-IDD. Anti-TMEV CTL activities in BALB/cAnNCr, BALB/cByJ and irradiated B ALB/cByJ mice are comparable. A population of splenic CD4(+) T cells in BAL B/cByJ donors has also been identified which can protect both susceptible B ALB/cAnNCr and irradiated BALB/cByJ recipients from TMEV-IDD via adoptive t ransfer. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.