T-Cell responses to oligodendrocyte-specific protein in multiple sclerosis

Oligodendrocyte-specific protein (OSP) is concentrated in CNS myelin and is a potential autoantigen in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS). We performed proliferation assays with lymphocytes from MS patients and normal controls. OSP peptide-induced proliferation was common in relapsing-remitt ing MS and controls samples but was less pronounced in samples from seconda ry progressive MS subjects. These data demonstrate that OSP-reactive T cell s are part of the normal immune repertoire and therefore have the potential to contribute to the pathogenesis of MS. Given the lack of specificity to MS, OSP-reactive T-cells are unlikely to be solely responsible for the dise ase process. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.