The Role of CD8+ T Cells and Their Local Interaction with CD4+ T Cells in Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein35–55–Induced Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

摘要

T cells have an essential role in the induction of multiple sclerosis and its animal model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Although for CD4+ T cells it is well established that they contribute to the disease, less is known about the role of CD8+ T cells. Our aim was to determine the individual contribution of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)35–55–induced EAE. We investigated MOG35–55–activated CD8+ T cells to clarify their potential to induce or attenuate EAE. We monitored the behavior of CD8+ T cells and their interaction with CD4+ T cells directly at the site of inflammation in the CNS using intravital imaging of the brainstem of EAE-affected living anesthetized mice. We found that mice without CD4+ T cells did not develop relevant clinical signs of disease, although CD8+ T cells were present in the CNS of these mice. These CD8+ T cells displayed reduced motility compared with those in the presence of CD4+ T cells. In mice that harbored CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, we saw a similar extent of clinical signs of EAE as in mice with only CD4+ T cells. Furthermore, the dynamic motility and viability of CD4+ T cells were not disturbed by CD8+ T cells in the lesions of these mice. Therefore, we conclude that in MOG35–55–induced EAE, CD8+ T cell accumulation in the CNS represents instead an epiphenomenon with no impact on clinical disease or on the effects of CD4+ T cells, the latter being the true inducers of the disease.