LONGITUDINAL-STUDY OF MYELIN BASIC PROTEIN-SPECIFIC T-CELL RECEPTORS DURING THE COURSE OF MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS

This study analyzed the stability of the myelin basic protein (MBP)-sp ecific T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire during the course of multiple sclerosis (MS) in three patients who were monitored for three years by gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. Bulk-culture T-cell l ines (TCLs) were generated from 3-4 time points for each patient, incl uding times of active and quiescent disease. TCR analysis of these TCL s indicated that both the V alpha and V beta usage was similar over ti me for each patient. Sequencing of TCRs demonstrated conserved complem entarity-determining region 3 (CDR3) sequences within TCLs that expres sed the same V alpha segment over time, although the J alpha usage was different for each TCR. This indicates that the population of MBP-rea ctive T-cells is changing during the course of MS, but that host and/o r environmental factors may be selecting T-cells with particular MHC/p eptide binding domains. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.