Cell‐mediated immunity to myelin basic protein in Lewis rats made unresponsive to experimental allergic encephalomyelitis

摘要

AbstractLewis rats with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) exhibited cellmediated immunity to myelin basic protein as determined both within vivoandin vitroassays. Positive skin test reactions and production of migration inhibitory factor (MIF) were observed before onset and after recovery from EAE. Rats rendered unresponsive to EAE exhibitedin vitrocell‐mediated immunity to basic protein, althoughin vivomanifestations were depressed. However, tolerant rats failed to respond to the encephalitogenic determinant; rats with EAE exhibited cell‐mediated immunity to this region of the molecule. The results indicate that EAE‐unresponsive rats possess lymphocytes capable of responding to basic protein, but that reactivity to the encephalitogenic peptide is suppr